Indonesia Ferry Death Toll Reaches 64, Search Continues
Rescuers have recovered more bodies from a capsized ferry in the Java Sea, with dozens still missing and presumed dead.
Indonesian rescuers have recovered more bodies from the wreck of a ferry that capsized in the Java Sea two weeks ago, bringing the death toll to 64. A search operation for 71 people still missing, all presumed dead, has been extended for seven days.
The Virgo Transport 8 lost contact with its operator after departing Surabaya for Borneo island with 213 passengers and 30 crew members. So far, 108 people have been rescued.
Rescue teams recovered four bodies from inside the submerged vessel on Friday, while seven more were found along nearby shorelines, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency’s Operation Director Yudhi Bramantyo. The operation will be evaluated every three days to determine its continuation. Indonesian regulations typically allow for seven-day search-and-rescue operations, but extensions are possible if authorities believe additional victims might be found.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation. Accidents occur frequently, with weak safety enforcement often cited as a contributing factor.