Indonesia Deploys 622 Personnel, 12 Ships, Helicopters In Search For 129 Missing After Ship Capsizes

More than 600 rescuers were deployed in Indonesia on Monday to search for 129 people still missing after a passenger vessel capsized in the Java Sea, officials said. The death toll remained at six.

The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 passengers and crew, disappeared amid severe weather early Sunday while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Rescue teams have so far pulled 108 people from the vessel.

622 Personnel And 12 Ships Deployed

I Putu Sudayana, head of the Banjarmasin rescue agency, said search operations resumed early Monday with 622 personnel and around 12 vessels involved.

“We have continued the search for the missing since early in the morning,” Sudayana said, adding that there had been no change in the death toll as of Monday morning.

Rescue authorities also released footage showing the large red-and-black vessel overturned and partially submerged in rough waters. Several smaller boats could be seen operating close to the capsized ship.

Strong Waves Suspected In Capsizing

Officials said the vessel appeared to have tilted sharply after powerful waves struck its starboard side.

Edy Prakoso, an official with Indonesia’s national rescue agency, said the ship had reportedly listed heavily before capsizing. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said a passing helicopter later spotted the overturned vessel.

Authorities have not yet established the exact cause of the accident, and investigations are continuing.

Ferry Accidents Raise Safety Concerns

Ferries remain a crucial mode of transportation in Indonesia, an archipelago of around 17,000 islands. Sea travel is often cheaper and more accessible than air travel, particularly for people travelling between remote islands.

However, the country has experienced several serious ferry accidents in recent years. Last month, two separate ferry fires involving vessels carrying hundreds of passengers were reported. Five people were killed when one ferry caught fire near Madura Island, while another person died in a ferry fire on a route from the popular tourist destination of Bali.

The latest disaster has once again highlighted concerns over maritime safety and emergency preparedness in Indonesia’s busy inter-island transport network.