Indonesian rescue crews are searching for 140 people from a passenger ship that lost contact in the Java Sea during bad weather, after 103 others were evacuated and one person died.
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Key facts
- A passenger ship carrying more than 240 people was reported missing in the Java Sea early on Sunday.
- The vessel lost contact during bad weather, according to Indonesia's search and rescue agency.
- 103 people were evacuated, one of whom died.
- Rescuers were still searching for 140 people as of Sunday.
- The ship was identified as the Virgo Transport 8.
Indonesian rescue crews were searching on Sunday for 140 people from a passenger ship that was earlier reported missing in the Java Sea, a search and rescue agency official said.
The vessel, identified as the Virgo Transport 8, was carrying more than 240 people when it lost contact during bad weather early on Sunday, according to the country’s search and rescue agency.
Of those on board, 103 people were evacuated from the ship. One of the evacuees died, the agency official said.
As the search continued, efforts focused on locating the remaining 140 people who had not yet been accounted for.
The Guardian reported that the ship was earlier reported missing in the Java Sea after losing contact amid the poor weather conditions.
Why it matters
Ferry travel is a vital link across Indonesia's thousands of islands, and accidents involving overcrowded or weather-hit vessels can carry a heavy human toll. The scale of this incident, with 140 people still unaccounted for, underscores the risks passengers face when ships encounter severe conditions at sea.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were on the ship?
The passenger ship was carrying more than 240 people when it lost contact, according to Indonesia's search and rescue agency.
How many people have been rescued?
A total of 103 people were evacuated from the vessel, one of whom died. Rescuers were still searching for 140 others as of Sunday.
What caused the ship to go missing?
The ship lost contact during bad weather in the Java Sea early on Sunday, according to the country's search and rescue agency.
Timeline
- Indonesian rescue crews searching for 140 people after ferry hit bad weather
The Guardian World: More than 100 others on board were evacuated from the Virgo Transport 8 ship, including one who died Indonesian rescuers were searching on Sunday for 140 people from a passenger ship that was earlier reported missing in the Java Sea after 103 others were evacuated, one of who