In Indonesia, rescue teams have recovered three additional bodies from the capsized ferry, bringing the confirmed death toll to nine. This tragic incident occurred on Sunday when the Virgo Transport 8 encountered difficulties in rough seas. As of now, 126 individuals are still reported missing. The ferry was transporting a total of 243 people from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan on the island of Borneo.

Colonel Galih Nurna Putra, commander of the Banjarmasin Naval Base, provided an update stating that divers accessed the wreckage via a window to retrieve the bodies of two men and one woman. The deceased will be transported to Banjarmasin for identification and formalities. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to salvage the wreck, with planning already in progress to manage the recovery of the vessel.

Details Of The Incident

On the day of the incident, the ferry’s captain issued a distress signal, indicating that the vessel was listing due to waves reaching approximately three metres. Contact with the ferry was lost around 2 am, and approximately two hours later, authorities were informed that the vessel had capsized in the Masalembo waters of the Java Sea, located about 148 kilometres from Banjarmasin.

The ferry reportedly had 213 passengers and 30 crew members as noted in its manifest, although discrepancies with passenger numbers are a common occurrence in Indonesia. The Virgo Transport 8, measuring 119 metres long, was constructed in Japan in 1987 and had been operational there until the previous year. In addition to passengers, the ferry was carrying 89 vehicles.

Yudhi Bramantyo, the operations director at Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, commented that preparations are in place for the next steps in recovery operations. He described how the overturned ferry had drifted approximately 453 metres south-east from its original position and now sits at a depth of 29 metres, exposure influenced by the relatively shallow waters and prevailing clear conditions. Bramantyo also indicated that no fuel leaks or signs of oil pollution have been detected around the wreck site.

Challenges Faced By Search Teams

Rescue efforts were significantly hindered by adverse weather conditions over the past several days. On Thursday, divers and members of the Indonesian navy’s elite forces were finally able to access the wreck, overcoming challenges posed by strong winds, high waves, and currents that reached speeds of 12.6 kph.

As part of their operations, divers installed guide ropes to facilitate their work underwater, allowing them to observe an unusually clear vision of the hull from bow to stern. Ferry tragedies are not uncommon in Indonesia, an archipelagic nation consisting of more than 17,000 islands, where ferries serve as a prevalent means of transport. Insufficient enforcement of safety regulations has often been cited as a contributing factor to such calamities.

Concurrently, on Thursday, authorities concluded a ten-day search effort for eight individuals, including five photojournalists, missing after a speedboat trip to Anak Krakatau volcano. To summarise, reports confirm that nine fatalities have been documented, with 108 individuals successfully rescued. Continuous efforts are being made to locate the remaining 126 individuals, while operations are being coordinated for the wreck salvage.

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