Indonesian authorities are continuing search and rescue efforts after a ferry carrying 243 passengers and crew overturned in the Java Sea on Sunday amid rough weather conditions. At least six people have been confirmed dead, while around 130 remain missing, according to officials involved in the operation.

The vessel, named Virgo Transport 8, departed from Surabaya in East Java on Saturday bound for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, located on the island of Borneo. The last known communication was received at approximately 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, when the ferry’s captain reported encountering waves up to 2.5 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) and expressed concerns about the ship listing before issuing a distress call.

Search and rescue teams, including helicopters and vessels, were deployed after authorities lost contact with the ferry. I Putu Sudayana, the local search and rescue chief, described the conditions as hazardous, with rough seas complicating efforts. He noted that even rescue vessels faced significant risks navigating the area. At least 102 to 107 survivors have been confirmed rescued and brought ashore, with authorities continuing to search the waters around the ferry’s last recorded position approximately 90 miles from Banjarmasin.

The captain’s initial reports indicated the vessel was listing before it eventually overturned. Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed the ferry had capsized but stated that, as of mid-afternoon local time, the ship had not fully sunk. The search operation is ongoing, with paramedics and ambulances stationed in Banjarmasin to assist survivors and attend to families awaiting news.

The incident highlights continuing concerns over ferry safety in Indonesia, a country made up of over 17,000 islands where water transport is widely used. Safety standards have faced scrutiny amid a history of ferry accidents resulting from adverse weather and insufficient enforcement measures.

This tragedy occurs just days after a separate maritime disaster in the Philippines, where a passenger ferry fire claimed at least 76 lives, underscoring ongoing challenges in maritime safety across Southeast Asia. The Indonesian authorities have pledged to intensify rescue efforts as they work to account for all passengers and investigate the circumstances leading to the capsizing.