A passenger ferry carrying 243 people has gone missing in Indonesia’s Java Sea after reportedly encountering severe weather while travelling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.
Indonesian authorities said six people have died and 97 others have been rescued so far. Rescue teams are continuing their search for passengers who remain missing following the incident involving the Virgo Transport 8 ferry.
The search operation has brought together multiple agencies, with ships, a helicopter, navy personnel and maritime police deployed to locate the missing passengers and assist survivors.
The ferry was travelling between the two Indonesian cities when bad weather disrupted the journey, according to authorities. The incident has triggered a large-scale emergency response in the Java Sea.
Meanwhile, worried families have gathered at ports in Banjarmasin and Surabaya as they wait for updates about relatives and other passengers aboard the vessel.
Authorities are continuing efforts to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the ferry’s disappearance while rescue teams remain focused on finding those still unaccounted for.
The number of rescued passengers could change as search teams reach additional areas and provide assistance to people who may still be stranded at sea.
The incident has raised concerns over maritime safety as Indonesian authorities maintain the search operation for the remaining passengers and work to provide information to affected families.
