Indonesia: ferry capsizes, one dead and over 100 rescued

Sunday 13 September 2026 - 07:38

A ferry connecting the islands of Java and Borneo capsized in Indonesian waters as severe weather conditions hit the region. The preliminary toll reports at least one death and 102 people rescued, while operations continue to locate other passengers.

Contact with the ship lost mid-crossing

Virgo Transport 8 departed on Saturday from the port of Surabaya in East Java, heading to Banjarmasin on Borneo. The ferry was carrying a total of 243 people.

Contact with the vessel was lost early Sunday morning. Authorities were alerted and immediately initiated search operations from the ferry's last known position.

According to initial information provided by rescuers, the ship was located in the Java Sea, about 150 kilometers from Banjarmasin.

Rescue operations quickly underway

Search and rescue teams were mobilized after the ferry's disappearance was reported. Some of the individuals on board were rescued, bringing the number of survivors to 102, according to the toll reported on Sunday.

However, one person lost their life in the capsizing.

Authorities remain engaged to determine the fate of the other individuals who were aboard the ship. The toll is therefore subject to change as operations at sea progress.

A crossing disrupted by bad weather

The ferry was making a connection between two of the main islands of the Indonesian archipelago amid unfavorable weather conditions. The sea conditions complicate rescue operations and may have also played a role in the circumstances surrounding the accident.

The precise circumstances that led to the capsizing of the Virgo Transport 8 are yet to be established. Authorities will need to determine the ship's navigation conditions at the time of the incident as well as any difficulties faced by the crew.

A large-scale operation in the Java Sea

The accident mobilizes several rescue teams in a particularly busy maritime area between Java and Borneo. The priority now remains to locate the individuals still reported missing and to assist them.

The capsizing also highlights the risks faced by passengers on maritime routes in the Indonesian archipelago, where ferries play a crucial role in connecting the country's many islands.

Search efforts continue to establish a definitive toll and determine the exact circumstances of this maritime tragedy.