Rescue efforts continue in Indonesia following the capsizing of a passenger ferry in the Java Sea, with 129 people still unaccounted for three days after the incident. The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 passengers and crew, went missing on Sunday amid rough weather while traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.
Authorities have confirmed six fatalities and the rescue of 108 survivors so far. The search operation remains challenging due to persistent adverse weather and sea conditions, which have limited rescue teams to surface and aerial efforts. Waves remain high, ranging from 1.75 to 2.5 meters, impeding underwater search operations.
I Putu Sudayana, head of the Banjarmasin rescue agency, reported that approximately 1,100 personnel from the coast guard and navy are involved in the ongoing mission. “The weather is still not favorable this morning,” he said, underscoring the impact of sea conditions on the search.
Efforts to conduct underwater searches were postponed Monday due to safety concerns linked to the rough seas, according to Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s national rescue agency. Teams found no new survivors or bodies that day. Syafii explained that if the weather improves, specialized divers who can operate at depths exceeding 100 meters will be deployed to explore the submerged vessel.
The Virgo Transport 8 rests inverted at a depth of about 30 meters. The navy plans to utilize advanced equipment, including the Canopus vessel outfitted with an underwater drone, a multibeam echo-sounder for mapping, and a remotely operated vehicle to conduct closer inspections. However, rescue teams face significant challenges: the capsized ship remains unstable and may shift unexpectedly due to trapped air pockets and void compartments, posing dangers to divers through sudden pressure changes.
Authorities are also weighing the possibility of righting the vessel or pulling it to the surface, though no final decision has been reached. Syafii emphasized the sustained hope of finding survivors despite the difficulties: “Of course we are still hoping to find the victims alive.”
Search and rescue operations are expected to continue as conditions allow, with agencies closely monitoring weather forecasts and sea states to determine when underwater interventions can be safely resumed.