Search Continues for 129 Missing After Indonesian Passenger Ship Capsizes

Jakarta: Search and rescue operations are continuing for 129 people missing after a passenger ship capsized in the Java Sea in Indonesia. The Virgo Transport, carrying 243 people, met with the accident amid bad weather.

The vessel departed from Surabaya in East Java for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan on Saturday. Contact with the ship was completely lost around 2 am on Sunday after it encountered severe weather. The vessel was last detected around 80 nautical miles from the Basirih jetty in Banjarmasin. Communication with the operator was lost amid strong winds and high waves. The ship was later found capsized during search operations.

A total of 108 people have been rescued, while six people have died, Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency said. As many as 622 rescue personnel and 12 vessels have been deployed for the search operation.

Rescue efforts have been hampered by rough sea conditions. Authorities said an underwater rescue team could not be deployed because of strong winds and high waves. The accident site is around 150 km from the command centre in Banjarmasin.

A preliminary assessment suggests that a powerful wave struck one side of the vessel, causing it to tilt before eventually capsizing completely.

Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the vessel had a capacity to carry up to 500 passengers and that the number of people on board was therefore not considered excessive.