A passenger ship that had lost contact in Indonesia’s Java Sea has sunk, with around 130 people unaccounted for, the country’s National Search and Rescue Agency said on Sunday.
Around 110 people have been rescued and at least one person has died, according to the latest available figures.
The passenger ship, Virgo Transport 8, was carrying 243 people when it lost contact at around 2am local time on Sunday after encountering bad weather, according to the search and rescue agency.
The vessel had departed from Surabaya in East Java province on Saturday and was heading to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province.
The cause of the accident remains unclear.
Indonesian search and rescue authorities have deployed personnel, ships and a helicopter to waters near the vessel’s last known position to conduct search and rescue operations.
Indonesia, an archipelagic country with around 17 000 islands, relies heavily on ferries and other forms of sea transportation to connect its islands and facilitate travel.
Maritime accidents occur from time to time due to factors including weather, sea conditions and vessel safety.
- The passenger ship Virgo Transport 8 sank in Indonesia's Java Sea, with about 130 people unaccounted for.
- Around 110 people have been rescued, and at least one person has died.
- The ship had 243 people on board and lost contact at around 2am local time on Sunday after encountering bad weather.
- The vessel departed from Surabaya in East Java and was heading to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.
- Indonesian search and rescue authorities have deployed personnel, ships, and a helicopter for operations near the vessel's last known position.
