At least six people have died and 130 remain missing after a ferry capsized in the Java Sea, Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency reported on Sunday. The vessel, Virgo Transport 8, was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, when it encountered bad weather during its journey from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province.

The ferry lost contact at approximately 2 a.m. local time on Sunday. Its last recorded position was roughly 90 miles from Banjarmasin, the intended destination, according to Heri Purwanto, head of the Banjarmasin port authority. Rescue teams have since confirmed that 107 passengers were rescued.

Indonesia’s Transport Minister, Dudy Purwagandhi, said at a press briefing in Banjarmasin that the vessel had capsized but remained afloat as of 3 p.m. local time Sunday. “From the information we received, based on helicopter surveillance, the ship capsized but has not sunk,” he stated.

Local search and rescue chief I Putu Sudayana noted the challenging conditions faced by rescue teams, describing waves reaching heights of up to 2.5 meters. He highlighted the dangers involved: “It is extremely risky for vessels. Even our Basarnas vessel, which is 40 meters long, is at great risk.” A helicopter was deployed to assist in the ongoing operations.

In Banjarmasin, medical teams and ambulances were on standby as relatives and friends of passengers gathered at a command post where updates on rescued individuals were displayed on a whiteboard. Jenah, 26, who was seeking news about her older brother, expressed her distress: “I am saddened and very shocked. Until now, I haven’t received any more information. He was travelling alone. I hope he survives. I haven’t been able to contact him since last night.”

Indonesia’s extensive archipelago, consisting of more than 17,000 islands, depends heavily on maritime transport, with ferries playing a vital role in connecting regions. However, safety regulations are not always strictly enforced, contributing to a relatively high rate of ferry accidents in the country.

Search and rescue efforts continued amid difficult weather conditions as authorities worked to locate remaining passengers and ascertain the full extent of casualties.