Tragedy at Sea: Ferry Capsizes Off Java, 129 Still Missing
At least six people are dead and 129 remain missing after a ferry capsized in rough seas off the coast of Java on Sunday, a stark reminder of the dangers that still haunt maritime travel across Southeast Asia. The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew, lost contact with its shipping company in the early hours of Sunday after departing from Surabaya in East Java.
Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, Basarnas, confirmed the death toll and the number of missing, while reporting that 108 people have been rescued so far. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with helicopters and vessels from the navy, police, and the ferry company scouring the Java Sea.
Survivor recounts panic as ship began to list
Rinto Arahap, a 33-year-old survivor, described scenes of chaos to AFP from a stretcher at a health facility in Banjarmasin, where many of the rescued were taken. He said many passengers were asleep when the vessel began tilting around 2:00 am local time, with waves reaching more than two meters high.
People were panicking. Some climbed onto tables, some were pushing each other, Arahap said. There was no warning from the ship's crew. Basically, it was just someone taking the initiative, shouting, 'Oh, the ship is listing, listing, listing.'
Arahap, who was traveling to Samarinda in East Kalimantan to start work on a palm oil plantation, said he grabbed a life jacket before the ship overturned and drifted for about four hours before being rescued. He lost everything in the ordeal, including his wallet, clothes, and school diploma.
Search and rescue efforts continue amid difficult conditions
Rescuers battled waves of up to 2.5 meters to reach the ferry, according to local search and rescue chief I Putu Sudayana. The vessel's last known position was detected in the Java Sea, roughly 150 kilometers from its destination. Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed the ship had capsized.
A command center has been established at the Banjarmasin port, with paramedics and ambulances on standby. Dozens of relatives have gathered, anxiously checking a whiteboard where the names of rescued passengers are being updated.
Jenah, 26, who came to the command post for information about her older brother, told AFP she was saddened and very shocked. He was traveling alone. I hope he survives. I couldn't contact him since last night.
Why do maritime accidents keep happening in Indonesia?
Marine accidents are a recurring tragedy in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands that depends heavily on ferries and boats for daily transport and tourism. Lax safety standards and unpredictable weather are the primary causes of these disasters.
Just a day after this incident, a speedboat carrying eight people, including five journalists, went missing near Mount Anak Krakatau in Banten province. That search is still ongoing.
As the region watches and waits for news of the missing, the families of those aboard the Virgo Transport 8 cling to hope. The sea, which connects these islands, can also separate them in the most heartbreaking of ways.