Indonesia: New Victims Found After Ferry Capsizing in the Java Sea

10:56

Search operations continue in Indonesia following the capsizing of the ferry Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea. Rescue teams have recovered new victims from the accident, which occurred while the ship was on a route between Surabaya and Banjarmasin.

Searches Ongoing Around the Wreck

Indonesian authorities announced on Sunday, September 20, the discovery of new victims in the wreck of the Virgo Transport 8, several days after the ship sank in the Java Sea.

The operation is being led by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), which has been mobilized since the accident to locate missing persons and recover victims.

At this stage, authorities have not yet specified the exact number of bodies recovered during this new phase of operations.

A Ferry Connecting Surabaya to Banjarmasin

The ship was making a crossing between Surabaya, in eastern Java, and Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan, when the accident occurred.

The ferry capsized before sinking in the Java Sea. Rescue operations have since mobilized various means to search for passengers still reported missing and to explore the wreck site.

Images released by authorities show rescue team members, equipped with personal protective gear, carrying body bags after recovering victims.

Rescue Operation Still Ongoing

The continuation of the search comes as authorities are still trying to establish a complete toll of the disaster. The number of people involved in the capsizing and the number of victims are to be consolidated as operations progress.

Indonesian teams continue their interventions around the wreck, prioritizing the location of those still missing and the recovery of victims.

The sinking of the Virgo Transport 8 highlights the challenges faced by maritime rescue operations in the Indonesian archipelago, where maritime connections play a major role in travel between the various islands.