Indonesian Ferry Disaster Death Toll Rises to 28 as Search Continues
Rescuers locate more bodies inside the capsized vessel, with 107 still missing.
The death toll from a ferry that capsized and sank off Indonesia 10 days ago has risen to 28, officials announced Wednesday, as the search for an estimated 107 missing people widens.
The Virgo Transport 8 ferry was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew, when it capsized in bad weather on September 13. It was en route from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.
Coast guard and Navy personnel have been working to recover victims from inside the submerged vessel. Nine bodies were found on Wednesday, bringing the total recovered from the ship to 16. Two additional bodies were found washed ashore approximately 157 miles from the accident site.
As of Wednesday, 108 people have been confirmed as survivors, while 107 remain missing. Search and rescue operations have been extended until September 27.
Efforts to right the ferry are ongoing, but the vessel remains capsized. Divers broke windows in the ship's cabins on Tuesday to gain access, but were hampered by murky water and strong currents, preventing them from immediately retrieving bodies that had been spotted inside.
Wednesday's search operations focused on the ship's hull, specifically the cabins where many passengers are believed to be trapped. Rescue officials stated that recovering bodies from vehicles piled inside the ferry's cargo area, if feasible and safe, will be a subsequent challenge.