Indonesian rescuers searching for 140 people missing in Java Sea, 103 rescued 

Indonesian rescuers searching for 140 people missing in Java Sea, 103 rescued

Jakarta, A passenger ferry carrying 243 people has gone missing in the Java Sea, while rescue authorities have managed to save 103 passengers.

According to Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency, the vessel Virgo Transport 8 departed from Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday bound for Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. Contact was lost on Sunday morning amid severe weather conditions.

Rescue teams confirmed that 103 passengers were safely evacuated, while operations are underway to locate the missing ferry and remaining passengers. A team has been dispatched to the vessel’s last known location.

Indonesia, comprising nearly 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries and passenger boats for inter-island travel. Sea journeys are cheaper and more accessible compared to air travel, but safety standards are often poorly enforced, leading to frequent accidents.

Authorities have assured that the search and rescue operation will continue until all passengers are accounted for.