One person has died and 102 individuals have been rescued following a maritime incident involving the Indonesian passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea. The vessel, carrying 243 people, lost contact with authorities amid adverse weather conditions, prompting a search and rescue operation.
The ferry was en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. It was last reported approximately 150 kilometers south of Banjarmasin around 2:00 AM local time on Sunday. Indonesia's search and rescue agency confirmed the loss of contact.
Search and rescue vessels and a helicopter have been deployed to the area. All other ships in the vicinity have been alerted to report any signs of passengers. The search for the remaining individuals on board is continuing.
This incident follows a separate ferry fire off Madura island last month, which resulted in five fatalities. Ferries are a crucial mode of transportation across Indonesia's archipelago, which comprises over 17,000 islands.