At least six people have died and 107 have been rescued after Indonesian passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea amid rough weather. Another 130 people remain missing, authorities said.
The vessel, carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members, departed Surabaya at 10:33 on Saturday and was headed for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Contact was lost around 2 am Sunday when the ship was about 150 km south of Banjarmasin. Authorities received a distress report at 4:10 am.
Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, navy, maritime police and other agencies have formed a joint task force.
Ships, a helicopter and 280 personnel have been deployed, while vessels across the Java Sea have been alerted. Waves reaching up to 2.5–3 metres have made the operation dangerous.
Authorities have not yet established the technical cause of the accident, with weather and possible mechanical failure under investigation.
Relatives gathered at ports seeking updates. Banjarmasin resident Rusmilawati was searching for eight relatives returning from a pilgrimage to Islamic scholars’ tombs in Java.
Another family learned freight driver Ahmad Supandi had survived after being rescued by MV Haida. Crew member Stevie Manuhua, a keyboard player aboard the ferry, remained missing.
Indonesia, home to more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries. Government data recorded 111 ship accidents between 2020 and 2026, including fatal incidents in July and August.
