Indonesian rescuers launched a search operation Sunday for the passenger ship Virgo Transport 8, which lost contact in the Java Sea carrying more than 240 people. The ship was en route from Surabaya in East Java province to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province.
The Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin received a report about two hours after contact was lost with the vessel, which occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday. The ship's operator reported the incident to authorities after being informed that the vessel had encountered bad weather, according to I Putu Sudayana, head of the Search and Rescue Office.
Initial reports placed the ship's last known position in the Java Sea, approximately 92 miles from a pier in Banjarmasin. The ship's manifest indicated a total of 241 passengers on board. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The vessel's operator, PT Virgo Yoel Rihi, stated that the ship departed Surabaya on Saturday at 10:13 a.m. local time. In response to the lost contact, a rescue team was dispatched to Banjarmasin's Basirih Search and Rescue pier, and a rescue ship is heading toward the Virgo Transport 8's estimated last known location. Sudayana, who is coordinating the search, noted that authorities were mobilizing all available personnel and assets due to the large number of passengers and crew. The agency is coordinating with maritime authorities and other relevant agencies while closely monitoring weather conditions in the area.