Rescuers search for 140 missing from Indonesian passenger ship
An Indonesian passenger ship carrying 243 people lost contact in the Java Sea, with 103 evacuated, one dead, and 140 missing.
The Virgo Transport 8 lost contact on Sunday in bad weather while carrying 243 people from Surabaya to Banjarmasin. Search and rescue crews sent ships and a helicopter to its last known position.
About 103 people were rescued by other ships, but one person died during the rescue. Indonesia relies heavily on ferries because sea routes cost less than air travel and are easier to reach.
However, safety rules are not always enforced properly. This leads to a high accident rate in the region's waters.
- 243
- People aboard
- 140
- Missing now
- Surabaya to Banjarmasin
- Route
- Sunday
- Lost contact
Why it mattersHundreds of people remain missing at sea. This shows the maritime safety risks in a region where ferries are key for transport.
AustraliaIndonesian maritime incident with no direct Australian effect yet, though the region sees regular Australian travel and trade.
Corroborated bysmh.com.au·theguardian.com
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 11 d ago
