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Indonesia·Natural Disaster

Indonesian ferry sinks in Java Sea with over 100 rescued and 140 still missing[Updated]

Sunday, 13 September 2026, 06:11 · 2 min read
Updates
27d

The search operation has expanded to include five aircraft alongside the 17 vessels now deployed, with Basarnas confirming that divers and navy-operated underwater drones will be used to search inside and around the overturned hull. Survivors were taken to a temporary medical post at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin, where some described passengers rushing to the upper deck and scrambling for life jackets as the vessel listed. The captain had reported waves of up to three metres and a heavy list to starboard before contact was lost, and a passing helicopter subsequently confirmed the ferry had capsized. Officials stated the vessel was not overloaded, carrying fewer than its maximum capacity of 500 people, and the manifest also included 89 vehicles, with the passenger breakdown comprising 59 adults, one child, 126 drivers and vehicle assistants, and 27 ship-related workers.

Sources
28d

The death toll has risen to six, with 108 people now confirmed rescued and 129 still missing, according to Indonesia's national search and rescue agency Basarnas. The vessel was carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members — 243 people in total — and was last known to be approximately 150 kilometres south of Banjarmasin when contact was lost. Survivor Rinto Arahap, 33, described scenes of panic as the ship began listing around 2am, saying passengers were asleep when the vessel tilted and that no warning was issued by crew. The search operation has since grown to more than 622 personnel and around 12 ships, with all vessels in the Java Sea area alerted to report any signs of survivors.

Sources
Original story

Indonesian search and rescue teams were conducting an extensive operation on Sunday after losing contact with a passenger ferry carrying more than 240 people in the Java Sea, with 103 people evacuated and at least one confirmed dead, while around 140 others remained missing.

The Virgo Transport 8, operated by PT Virgo Yoel Rihi, departed Surabaya — Indonesia's second-largest city, located in East Java province — on Saturday morning, bound for Banjarmasin, the main city of South Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo. The roughly 500-kilometre crossing took the vessel through the Java Sea, where it encountered severe weather conditions. Contact was lost at approximately 2am local time on Sunday, and authorities were only notified two hours later when the ship's operator received word that the vessel was in distress. The ship's manifest listed 241 passengers, with the total number on board, including crew, reaching 243.

The search and rescue office in Banjarmasin confirmed the vessel's last known position was approximately 148 to 150 kilometres from the Banjarmasin pier. Rescue coordinator I Putu Sudayana said authorities mobilised all available personnel and assets — including multiple ships and a helicopter — given the large number of people on board. Teams were dispatched to the vessel's estimated location while coordination with maritime authorities and other agencies continued, with weather conditions being closely monitored throughout.

The incident highlights persistent safety concerns surrounding Indonesia's maritime transport network. As an archipelago of around 17,000 islands, the country relies heavily on ferries, which offer a more affordable and accessible means of travel between islands than air transport. However, safety regulations are not always rigorously enforced, contributing to a relatively high rate of maritime accidents.

Authorities had not yet confirmed the vessel's exact fate as the rescue operation continued, and the number of casualties and missing persons may change as teams reach more of the last known site. The search was ongoing late Sunday, with rescuers working against difficult sea conditions to locate those still unaccounted for.

Sources
Channel NewsAsia — Search underway for Indonesian passenger ship carrying 240 people after it loses contact ↗︎NOS Nieuws — Passagiersschip in problemen in Indonesische wateren, 140 opvarenden vermist ↗︎The Guardian — Indonesian rescue crews searching for 140 people after ferry hit bad weather ↗︎
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This article was automatically compiled by AI from the sources above. It may contain inaccuracies. Always read the original sources for the full context.