Indonesian rescuers are searching for roughly 130 people after the passenger ship Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 on board, sank in the Java Sea during bad weather. At least six people have died and more than 100 have been rescued.
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Key facts
- The vessel Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people when it lost contact with its operator.
- At least six people have died and about 130 remain missing, officials say.
- More than 100 people have been rescued at sea.
- The ship sank in bad weather in the Java Sea on Sunday.
- A search and rescue operation is ongoing.
Indonesian officials have launched a major search and rescue operation after a passenger ship carrying more than 240 people lost contact in the Java Sea during bad weather, according to Sky News.
The vessel, identified as Virgo Transport 8, had 243 people on board when it lost contact with its operator, Al Jazeera reported. Rescuers said the ferry sank in bad weather on Sunday.
At least six people have died and about 130 passengers and crew remain missing, officials say. More than 100 people have been rescued at sea, with Sky News reporting that 103 had been brought to safety.
NPR reported that the ferry overturned before sinking, leaving around 130 people unaccounted for as the search continued.
The disaster unfolded amid poor weather conditions in the Java Sea, which officials have linked to the loss of contact and the sinking of the vessel.
Search and rescue efforts remained ongoing as authorities worked to locate those still missing.
Why it matters
Ferry disasters are a recurring hazard in Indonesia, an archipelago nation where sea travel is a vital form of transport for millions of people. The scale of this incident, with hundreds on board and many still missing, underscores the ongoing risks posed by bad weather and maritime safety challenges.
Frequently asked questions
What ship was involved in the Java Sea incident?
The vessel was the Virgo Transport 8, a passenger ship carrying 243 people when it lost contact with its operator, according to Al Jazeera.
How many people are missing or have died?
At least six people have died and about 130 remain missing, while more than 100 people have been rescued at sea, officials say.
What caused the ship to sink?
The ship sank in bad weather in the Java Sea on Sunday, according to reports from NPR, Sky News and Al Jazeera. It lost contact with its operator during the poor conditions.
Timeline
- Indonesian passenger ship overturns, sparking search for about 130 missing
NPR News: Indonesian rescuers said about 130 passengers and crew are missing after a ferry carrying more than 240 people sank in bad weather in the Java Sea on Sunday.
- Indonesian passenger ship overturns, sparking search for at least 129 missing
NPR News: Indonesian rescuers said about 130 passengers and crew are missing after a ferry carrying more than 240 people sank in bad weather in the Java Sea on Sunday.
- More than 100 people missing after Indonesian passenger ship capsizes
Al Jazeera: Search and rescue ongoing after Virgo Transport 8, with 243 people on board, lost contact with its operator.
- Rescuers search for 140 people after Indonesian passenger ship sinks
Al Jazeera: Search and rescue ongoing after Virgo Transport 8, with 243 people on board, lost contact with its operator.
- Rescuers search for over 100 people after Indonesian passenger ship sinks
Al Jazeera: Search and rescue ongoing after Virgo Transport 8, with 243 people on board, lost contact with its operator.
- Six dead and search under way for 129 missing from Indonesian passenger ship
Sky News: At least six people have died and 129 people are still missing after a passenger ship in Indonesia carrying more than 240 people lost contact in the Java Sea during bad weather, officials say.
- Search for Indonesian passenger ship after it loses contact
Sky News: Indonesian officials have launched a search for a passenger ship carrying more than 240 after it lost contact in the Java Sea during bad weather.
- Search for 140 people missing from Indonesian passenger ship
Sky News: Indonesian officials say 103 people have been rescued at sea after a passenger ship carrying more than 240 people lost contact in the Java Sea during bad weather.
- Six dead and search under way for 130 missing from Indonesian passenger ship
Sky News: At least six people have died and 130 people are still missing after a passenger ship in Indonesia carrying more than 240 people lost contact in the Java Sea during bad weather, officials say.