Indonesia continues search for at least 128 after ferry Virgo Transport 8 sank
The ferry went down near Masalembu Island; 115 of 243 people aboard have been accounted for, authorities say.
At least 128 people remain listed as missing after the ferry Virgo Transport 8 sank in Indonesian waters, authorities said, while 109 passengers were rescued and six deaths have been confirmed. The Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported that 115 of the vessel’s total 243 passengers and crew have so far been accounted for.
Where and when it happened
The vessel went down in the early hours of Sunday in the Java Sea near Tanjung Selatan, off South Kalimantan, close to Masalembu Island. Local officials have mobilized search-and-rescue teams and other agencies to continue recovery operations.
Provincial authorities in South Kalimantan are preparing survivors for travel home once they have received medical and psychological checks. "After we spoke with them, most of the survivors said they wanted to return home as soon as possible," Governor Muhidin said.
Fifteen survivors remain hospitalized in Banjarmasin: six at Ulin Regional General Hospital, seven at Bhayangkara Hospital and two at Sultan Suriansyah Hospital. Another 59 passengers who are in good condition have been temporarily housed in facilities provided by the provincial government.
Officials are also assisting survivors who lost identity documents by arranging police certifications needed to purchase plane tickets. Search-and-rescue operations continue, with Basarnas working alongside other Indonesian institutions to locate the remaining missing passengers and crew.
Photo: Wikipedia / Maritimhub Kemenhub
