Indonesia Ferry Disaster Death Toll Rises To 66
The death toll from an Indonesian ferry that capsized over two weeks ago has risen to 71, with divers facing hazardous conditions like leaking fuel and unstable structures while searching for missing passengers. Salvage efforts are underway, with international and local contractors being considered to right the vessel.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the ongoing dangers of maritime travel in certain regions and the complex challenges involved in disaster recovery, impacting the victims' families and potentially leading to investigations into maritime safety.
The death toll from an Indonesian ship that capsized more than two weeks ago rose to 71on Monday, as divers braved leaking fuel and dangerously unsound structures to try to find passengers still listed as missing.
The Virgo Transport 8 ferry was carrying 243 people when it capsized in bad weather in the Java Sea on September 13 during a voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Authorities said 108 people survived.
Divers were navigating through unstable debris on the 16th day of the search, Hardiansyah Putra, a senior official from the search and rescue agency, said.
Searchers recovered five bodies from inside the 4,277-ton ship on Monday, senior agency official I Putu Sudayana said.
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