130 passengers remain missing after ferry loses contact in Indonesia

Search and rescue teams in Indonesia have launched a major operation after contact was lost with the Virgo Transport 8 ferry

BANJARMASIN: Search and rescue teams in Indonesia have launched a major operation after contact was lost with the Virgo Transport 8 ferry while it was travelling through rough weather in the Java Sea, with around 130 people still reported missing.

The ferry was travelling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan, when authorities lost contact with the vessel. It was last reported to be approximately 150 kilometres (93 miles) south of Banjarmasin at around 02:00 local time on Sunday.

Ships and a helicopter have been dispatched to the area as part of an extensive search and rescue operation involving around 280 personnel. Authorities have also alerted vessels operating throughout the Java Sea and asked them to report any possible sightings of passengers or signs of the missing ferry.

According to data from maritime monitoring websites, Virgo Transport 8 departed from Surabaya at 10:33 on Saturday and was expected to reach Banjarmasin at around 14:00 on Sunday. The first distress report was received by authorities at approximately 04:10.

A joint task force has been established to coordinate the rescue operation. The team includes Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, navy, maritime police and other relevant authorities.

The incident has caused deep concern among families waiting for information about their relatives.

Rusmilawati, a resident of Banjarmasin, travelled to the port after losing contact with eight relatives who were among the passengers aboard the vessel. She said the family members had travelled to Java to visit the tombs of several Islamic scholars and had initially flown there before deciding to return by sea.

“They flew there initially, but for the return journey they wanted to try travelling by ship,” .

By Sunday afternoon, Rusmilawati said she had still received no official information about whether her relatives had been rescued.

The family’s last contact with one of the passengers came through a WhatsApp status update in which the relative described the frightening conditions at sea.

“The waves are really frightening tonight,” the message said, questioning whether such conditions were normal during sea travel.

“Hopefully they’re safe,” Rusmilawati said.

There were also emotional scenes among relatives as news of survivors began to emerge. Misnah broke down in tears after learning that her husband, Ahmad Supandi, had survived the incident.

Supandi, who works as a freight driver, was travelling aboard Virgo Transport 8 before being rescued by another vessel, the MV Haida.

At Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, relatives of crew members also gathered to seek updates about their loved ones.

Fredy, one of the relatives waiting for information, said his youngest sibling, Stevie Manuhua, worked aboard the ferry as a keyboard player, entertaining passengers during their journey.

Ferries remain an important mode of transportation in Indonesia, an archipelago comprising more than 17,000 islands. However, maritime accidents continue to pose a significant safety challenge.

Government figures show that 111 ship accidents were recorded in Indonesia between 2020 and 2026.

In July, the KM Nurul Salsasank in waters west of Polassi Island in South Sulawesi’s Selayar Islands Regency. Fifty-eight people survived the incident, while three people were found dead and another 14 remained unaccounted for.

The latest incident has once again raised concerns over passenger safety at sea as rescue teams continue their search for those still missing.