Indonesian passenger ship overturns, sparking search for about 130 missing
A passenger ferry carrying over 240 people sank in the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia during bad weather. Search and rescue operations are currently underway for approximately 130 missing passengers and crew members.
Why it matters
This is a major maritime disaster highlighting safety concerns in regional ferry transport and the challenges of search and rescue in remote waters.
BANJARMASIN, Indonesia — Indonesian rescuers say about 130 passengers and crew are missing after a ferry carrying more than 240 people sank in bad weather in the Java Sea on Sunday. At least 107 people were rescued and the bodies of six passengers were recovered as the search operation expanded in waters around the vessel's last known position.
The ferry was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province, officials said.
The vessel's captain had earlier reported rough seas with waves up to 3 meters (10 feet) before issuing a distress message, saying the ship was listing, said I Putu Sudayana, who heads the Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office. Authorities later received information indicating the vessel had overturned and then sunk.
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