Indonesia has extended its search and recovery operation after the passenger ship Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea, with 125 people still unaccounted for more than a week after the disaster.
The vessel was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, when it capsized in bad weather on Sept. 13 during a 20-hour voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. So far, 108 people have been rescued and 10 deaths have been confirmed.
Rescuers recovered another body from inside the ship’s hull on Sept. 20, following the recovery of three victims two days earlier. Strong currents have repeatedly hampered underwater operations, making it difficult for divers to search the wreck safely.
Authorities planned to deploy a remotely operated vehicle to help guide divers inside the overturned vessel. The technology is expected to assist rescue teams as they search areas that are difficult or dangerous for divers to reach directly.
The operation has also been extended by another week because of the large number of people still missing and the complexity of efforts to right the sunken ship. Salvage teams are working to make the wreck more accessible as the search continues.
Weather and sea conditions remain a major challenge. Earlier in the operation, rescuers faced strong winds, high waves and powerful currents, forcing underwater teams to suspend diving at various points. The ferry is lying upside down on the seabed, adding another layer of difficulty to the recovery effort.
The disaster has also left families waiting for information about relatives who remain missing. Many gathered at the destination port in Banjarmasin as authorities continued efforts to locate passengers and identify recovered victims.
Officials have not yet established the definitive cause of the accident. Earlier reports said investigators were examining whether natural conditions, technical problems or human factors contributed to the sinking.
For now, rescuers remain focused on reaching the wreck and recovering as many people as possible. With 125 passengers still unaccounted for, the search has entered a critical phase — and what rescuers discover inside the overturned vessel could determine the next chapter of one of Indonesia’s major maritime disasters this year.
