Families Await News as 129 Remain Missing After Indonesia Ferry Capsizes

Families of 129 people missing after a passenger ship capsized in Indonesia’s Java Sea are facing growing uncertainty as rough seas and strong winds continue to hamper rescue operations.

The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people on a 20-hour journey from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it capsized early Sunday amid severe weather.

As of Wednesday, six people had been confirmed dead and 108 had been rescued, while 129 remained unaccounted for. The figures had not changed since Sunday.

Rescue teams have struggled to conduct underwater operations because waves of up to 2.5 metres and strong winds have made conditions around the overturned vessel too dangerous for divers.

Six ships were deployed for surface searches on Wednesday, supported by helicopters and aircraft as authorities continued looking for survivors and missing passengers.

The difficult conditions have added to the frustration of relatives waiting at a rescue command centre in Banjarmasin. Some families said they had received little new information after several days of searching.

One relative, identified as Fauzi, said seven members of his family, including his mother, were aboard the ship. He called for authorities to consider using more advanced military equipment to assist with the search.

Another relative, 21-year-old Maria Dethan, has remained at the command centre while waiting for news of her brother, Samuel. She said she hoped authorities could provide clearer information about his whereabouts.

Authorities have continued to monitor weather and sea conditions while maintaining surface searches. The inability to reach the submerged portions of the vessel has limited efforts to determine whether anyone remains trapped inside.

The accident has renewed attention on maritime safety in Indonesia, an archipelagic country where ferries and passenger ships are an important means of transport between islands.

For the families still waiting, however, the immediate priority remains receiving information about their missing relatives as rescue teams continue searching despite the difficult conditions.