Indonesian officials ramped up their search efforts on Monday for 129 individuals missing after a ferry capsized amid rough weather in the Java Sea on Sunday, resulting in at least six confirmed deaths.
The ferry, Virgo Transport 8, had over 240 people on board when its captain issued a distress signal, reporting that the vessel was tilting dangerously in high seas with waves reaching up to 10 feet. The ferry was en route from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan on Borneo Island.
Communication with the ferry was lost around 2 a.m. on Sunday, and about two hours later, authorities learned that it had overturned in the Masalembo waters of the Java Sea, approximately 92 miles from Banjarmasin.
Videos shared by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed the ferry floating upside down in turbulent waters during a helicopter search.
Divers and Underwater Drones Deployed
On Monday, authorities mobilized 17 vessels and aircraft, involving around 655 personnel from military, police, and various agencies, according to Mohammad Syafii, the head of the National Search and Rescue Agency.
Additionally, specialized underwater teams and navy-operated thermal drones were brought in to enhance the search and expedite the recovery of victims, he noted.
“We are still hopeful of finding more survivors,” Syafii expressed during a video briefing.
As for the initial rescue efforts, teams, along with nearby tugboats and other vessels, managed to save 108 individuals and retrieve six bodies on Sunday.
The ship’s manifest indicated it was carrying 243 people, consisting of 213 passengers and 30 crew members, although it’s common in Indonesia for actual passenger numbers to diverge from the manifest.
The ferry, measuring 390 feet and built in Japan back in 1987, was also transporting 89 vehicles.
The exact cause of the accident remains unclear.
Survivors Share Disturbing Experiences
Ahmad Saudi, one of the survivors, described the situation aboard the ferry as overcrowded, with many passengers sleeping in hallways and common spaces due to full cabins.
He recounted how, without warning, the ferry began listing, creating chaos among the passengers as the turbulent seas battered the vessel. Initially, passengers tried to hold their ground but soon rushed to higher areas of the ship as it tilted further, with Saudi suggesting that the truck placements may have disrupted the ferry’s balance.
“The women in the economy-class cabins likely didn’t make it because the tilt happened so fast,” Saudi mentioned.
He also pointed out that there were no alarms or announcements to alert passengers to the situation, leaving many in cabins without sufficient time to evacuate.
Another survivor, known simply as Faisal, shared that he and 14 others held onto a portion of the overturned ferry that remained above water once it capsized.
“After the ship tilted, people rushed to the upper deck, but then it rolled over completely,” he recalled. “Fourteen of us were stranded there.”
While waiting for rescue, the group repeatedly recited the Islamic call to prayer to endure the exhaustion and challenging conditions at sea. Ultimately, a wave pushed Faisal toward a lifeboat, allowing him to survive.
Indonesia, an archipelago made up of over 17,000 islands, commonly sees ferries as a method of transportation, and accidents like this occur frequently, partly due to lax enforcement of safety regulations.
