20 Dead, 115 Missing 10 Days After Ship Sinks In Indonesia's Java Sea
The death toll from a ferry sinking in Indonesia's Java Sea has risen to 20, with 115 passengers still missing ten days after the accident. Rescue teams are struggling to navigate murky waters and strong currents to recover bodies trapped inside the ship's hull.
Why it matters
This is a major maritime disaster highlighting safety concerns and the logistical difficulties of deep-water rescue operations.
The official death count from a passenger ship that capsized and sank in Indonesia's Java Sea rose to 20 on Wednesday, up from the previous 10, with rescuers expecting to find more bodies as the ongoing underwater search widens, officials said. The Virgo Transport 8 ferry was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, as well as an unknown number of vehicles, when it capsized in bad weather early on September 13 during a voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.Coast guard and Navy personnel recovered eight bodies from inside the ship over the past three days, and also found two bodies that had been washed ashore in Central Kalimantan province around 253 km (157.21 miles) from the location of the accident, head of National Rescue Agency Mohammad Syafii said. As of Wednesday, the total death count stood at 20, with 115 people still missing and 108 survivors,…
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in