Indonesian authorities have launched a major search-and-rescue operation after a passenger vessel carrying more than 240 people lost contact in the Java Sea while sailing toward Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
The vessel, identified as Virgo Transport 8, departed Surabaya in East Java on Saturday, September 12, bound for Banjarmasin on the island of Borneo.
According to Indonesian search-and-rescue officials, contact with the vessel was lost at around 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, September 13, after the ship was reported to have encountered bad weather.
The vessel’s last known position was approximately 148 kilometers (92 miles) from Banjarmasin, according to initial information cited by international reports. Indonesian SAR officials separately placed the last reported position at roughly 80 nautical miles from the Basirih Search and Rescue Dock in Banjarmasin.
Search operation immediately launched
Banjarmasin’s Class A Search and Rescue Office said it received the report several hours after the vessel lost contact.
Rescuers subsequently deployed KN SAR Laksmana 241 toward the estimated last known position of the ship. Six rescue personnel were initially mobilized, while authorities coordinated with maritime and security agencies to expand the search.
The operation involves the Banjarmasin SAR office, port and maritime authorities, naval personnel, police marine units, navigation officials and other agencies.
Officials said additional rescue equipment, including water-rescue gear, diving equipment and communications systems, was prepared as the operation continued.
Bad weather raises concern
Authorities said the vessel had reportedly encountered poor weather conditions in the Java Sea before communication was lost.
The exact circumstances surrounding the loss of contact remained unclear in the latest official reports. Authorities were continuing to monitor weather conditions in the search area as rescue teams moved toward the vessel’s last known position.
The incident has triggered heightened concern because of the number of people believed to have been aboard.
International reports based on the ship’s manifest put the number of passengers at 241, while Indonesian reports have cited 243 people aboard, including 30 crew members. Because the figures remain inconsistent in early reporting, authorities are expected to clarify the final passenger and crew count as the rescue operation develops.
Conflicting early reports underscore the need for official updates
Some reports published as the operation developed have cited people being rescued from the vessel or surrounding waters, but these figures have not been consistently confirmed by the primary Indonesian SAR authorities.
For that reason, claims regarding the number of survivors or possible casualties should be treated cautiously until confirmed by Basarnas or other Indonesian authorities.
As of the latest confirmed international reporting, there were no officially confirmed casualty figures in the initial search reports.
Families urged to await official information
Indonesian SAR officials have urged families and the public to remain calm and rely on official information while the joint search continues.
The disappearance of Virgo Transport 8 comes against the backdrop of Indonesia’s heavy reliance on maritime transportation. With the country spread across thousands of islands, passenger vessels and ferries remain an important means of moving people between major population centers.
For now, the central question remains unanswered: Where is Virgo Transport 8, and what happened after the vessel lost contact in the Java Sea?
The search remains active, and authorities are expected to provide further updates as rescue teams reach and investigate the vessel’s last known position.
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