Indonesia Ferry Overturns in Java Sea
Monday, 2026/09/14167 words3 minutes472 reads
Indonesia began a large search after the passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8 overturned in the Java Sea on Sunday. The ship had left Surabaya on Saturday for Banjarmasin, on Borneo. Its manifest listed 213 passengers and 30 crew members.
In the early hours of Sunday, the captain reported bad weather and rough seas. He said the ferry was beginning to tilt before communication ended at about 2 a.m. Rescue officials said waves in the area were as high as three metres. The last known position was about 150 kilometres from Banjarmasin.
At first, some reports said the vessel had sunk. Later, Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said a rescue helicopter saw it floating upside down. Officials were still investigating the cause.
By Sunday evening, 107 people had been rescued and six had died. About 130 were missing. Nearby commercial ships helped in the first hours, including a Pertamina tanker that rescued 16 people. Rescue teams used ships, a helicopter and aircraft, but rough seas made the operation dangerous.
