Indonesian authorities on Monday escalated the search for 129 people missing and at least six confirmed dead after the Virgo Transport 8 ferry capsized in rough seas in the Java Sea.
The ferry, carrying more than 240 people, issued a distress call Sunday morning, reporting high waves and that the vessel was listing. Contact was lost around 2 a.m. local time, with information emerging later that the ship had overturned approximately 148 kilometers (92 miles) from Banjarmasin.
On Sunday, rescue teams, aided by nearby vessels, saved 108 people and recovered six bodies. The National Search and Rescue Agency stated Monday that 17 ships and aircraft, along with about 622 personnel from military, police, and other agencies, were involved in the intensified search efforts. Specialized underwater teams and navy-operated drones have also been deployed to aid in locating survivors and victims.
"We remain hopeful of finding more survivors," Mohammad Syafii, the National Search and Rescue Agency chief, said in a video briefing. Videos released by the agency showed the overturned ferry amidst choppy waters during a helicopter search.
The manifest indicated 243 people on board, comprising 213 passengers and 30 crew members, though passenger numbers on Indonesian ferries often exceed manifest counts. The vessel was also carrying 89 vehicles. Distraught relatives gathered at command centers in ports in Banjarmasin and Surabaya, awaiting news of their loved ones.
The Virgo Transport 8, built in Japan in 1987, was acquired by Indonesia last year. The archipelago nation, with over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation, but safety regulations are frequently poorly enforced, leading to regular maritime disasters.