Indonesia Launches Search for Over 240 Passengers After Ship Loses Contact

Indonesian authorities have initiated a search operation after the Virgo Transport 8, a passenger ship carrying over 240 people, lost contact in the Java Sea. The vessel had departed from Surabaya, East Java, heading towards Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan on Borneo Island.

According to reports from the Search and Rescue Office based in Banjarmasin, the last known position of the ship was recorded about 148 kilometers (92 miles) from the pier in Banjarmasin. Communication was lost at approximately 2am local time on Sunday, with adverse weather conditions reported around the time of the incident.

Initial reports indicate that subsequent to losing contact, rescue teams were mobilized and began searching the area. As of now, officials confirm that at least 103 individuals have been rescued from the sea, while approximately 140 passengers remain unaccounted for, raising concerns for their safety.

The Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency stated that they received a notification about the communication failure two hours after the ship lost contact. They are currently coordinating efforts to locate the missing passengers amid challenging weather conditions.

The search operation involves multiple agencies, including local maritime authorities and rescue teams. However, there are no immediate reports of casualties linked to the incident. The authorities continue to urge for vigilance given the deteriorating maritime conditions in the area.

As the situation develops, officials are focused on locating the remaining individuals aboard the ship. The maritime authorities are also monitoring the weather conditions to ensure the safety of the rescue operations.