BANJARMASIN, Indonesia — A massive search-and-rescue operation was underway in Indonesia after a passenger ferry carrying 243 people capsized in rough seas in the Java Sea, leaving at least six people dead and 129 still missing, authorities said.
The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members according to its manifest, was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it encountered severe weather early Sunday.
Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, known as Basarnas, said 108 people had been rescued while six bodies had been recovered. The figures remained subject to change as rescuers continued searching the area.
Ferry sent distress call as seas turned dangerous
According to AP reporting, the ship’s captain had reported rough seas and waves reaching about 3 meters (10 feet) before sending a distress call indicating that the vessel was listing.
The ferry subsequently overturned. Authorities said its last known position was in the Java Sea, roughly 148 kilometers (92 miles) from Banjarmasin.
A passing helicopter later alerted authorities that the ferry had capsized, according to Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi.
The precise cause of the accident has not yet been established. Indonesian authorities said they were examining whether weather, technical problems or human factors may have contributed to the disaster.
Survivors describe terrifying moments
Survivor accounts offered a glimpse into the chaos aboard the ferry.
Passenger Rinto Arahab told AFP that many people were asleep when the vessel began listing. He recalled passengers scrambling for safety as the ship overturned, with some attempting to climb onto higher parts of the vessel.
Another account described passengers trying to find life jackets and holding onto parts of the ship as the vessel was battered by the rough sea.
Rescuers also faced dangerous conditions of their own. Euronews reported that waves reached as high as 2.5 meters, making the search particularly difficult and risky for rescue vessels.
Dozens of families wait for answers
As the search continued, anxious relatives gathered at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin, waiting for information about loved ones aboard the ferry.
Rescue teams were using naval vessels, helicopters and other boats to search around the ferry’s last known location. Survivors were being transferred to other vessels and brought toward safety.
The vessel was carrying 89 vehicles in addition to its passengers and crew, according to AP. The Virgo Transport 8 is a 119-meter vessel built in Japan in 1987 and was acquired by its current Indonesian operator, PT Virgo Karya Shipping, last year.
There has also been some variation in early reports about the condition of the vessel. Initial information from search authorities indicated that the ferry had sunk, while Transport Minister Purwagandhi later said aerial observations showed the ship floating upside down rather than completely submerged.
Indonesia’s ferry safety challenge
The tragedy has once again placed Indonesia’s maritime safety challenges under scrutiny.
With more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia relies heavily on ferries and other vessels to connect communities. Sea transportation is often cheaper and more accessible than air travel, making passenger ships an essential part of everyday life across the archipelago.
The disaster also comes as Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee has been emphasizing the importance of accurate passenger manifests and proper cargo supervision in ferry operations. A KNKT safety review released days before the accident documented 46 Ro-Ro vessel accidents in Indonesian waters between 2003 and August 2026, underscoring the continuing importance of maritime safety oversight.
For now, however, the focus remains on the 129 people still unaccounted for.
Search teams were continuing operations as families waited for news—and authorities worked against time to determine whether more survivors could still be found.
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