Indonesian rescuers search for up to 140 missing after passenger ferry sinks

An Indonesian passenger ferry carrying more than 240 people has sunk in the Java Sea during heavy storms, prompting a massive search and rescue operation for up to 140 people who remain missing.

The Japanese-built vessel, Virgo Transport 8, lost contact with its operators at around 2am on Sunday, about two hours before authorities were alerted. Search and rescue teams, backed by a helicopter and several ships, are currently scouring the waters near the vessel's last known location, roughly 148 kilometres from its destination on Borneo.

The ship had departed from Indonesia’s second-largest city, Surabaya, on Saturday morning and was scheduled to dock in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Sunday afternoon.

Official figures on the number of survivors and casualties remain fluid as rescue operations continue in challenging conditions, with search crews battling waves of up to 2.5 metres. I Putu Sudayana, the head of the Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office, confirmed that a major rescue effort was underway, though different official counts have emerged.

According to the ship’s manifest, there were 243 people on board, including 213 passengers and 30 crew members. However, maritime officials note that passenger numbers on regional ferries frequently diverge from official lists.

By Sunday evening, the search and rescue agency reported that between 103 and 113 people had been successfully evacuated by passing vessels and rescue teams. Some of those rescued are being transported to a port in East Java.

The confirmed death toll also remains uncertain. Early reports from local rescue offices stated that one person had died, but later updates from the search and rescue agency suggested that at least six bodies had been recovered from the water. Consequently, the number of missing people is estimated to be between 130 and 140.

The Virgo Transport 8, which is designed to carry both travellers and vehicles, had departed Surabaya at 10:13am local time on Saturday. It was scheduled to arrive at Trisakti port in Banjarmasin at approximately 2:00pm on Sunday. Instead, anxious relatives gathered at the dockside looking for news after the ship's operator lost contact with the vessel in the early hours of the morning.

"The ship's operator reported the incident to authorities after receiving information that the vessel had encountered bad weather," Mr Sudayana said in a video briefing. He added that the agency is mobilising all available personnel and equipment, while closely coordinating with local maritime authorities and monitoring the weather.

Ferry travel is a lifeline for Indonesia, an archipelago nation of some 17,000 islands, offering a far cheaper alternative to flights. However, lax enforcement of safety regulations means maritime accidents are common. Just last month, more than 200 people had to be rescued from a burning ferry near Bali, while another vessel caught fire off Java, leaving five dead.