Indonesia says six killed, 130 missing after ferry capsizes off Java

Indonesian rescuers said at least six people were killed and 130 others were missing on Sunday after a ferry sailing between Java and Borneo capsized in bad weather. The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 passengers and crew when it lost contact after departing Surabaya in East Java.

How many people are missing after the Indonesia ferry disaster?

Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, Basarnas, said 130 people remained missing after the ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea. Officials confirmed six deaths and 107 survivors rescued so far, out of 213 passengers and 30 crew members who were on board.

What caused the ferry to capsize off Java?

Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed the ship had capsized but had not sunk as of 3:00 pm (0700 GMT). "From the information we received, based on helicopter surveillance... the ship capsized but has not sunk," he said at a news conference in Banjarmasin.

Local search and rescue chief I Putu Sudayana told AFP the ship's captain had reported the vessel was "tilting" before losing contact with its owners. Rescuers battled waves of up to 2.5 metres to reach the ferry, he said, adding that even Basarnas's own 40-metre vessel faced serious risk in the rough seas.

A Basarnas helicopter has since joined the rescue operation, Sudayana added. The ferry's last known position was in the Java Sea, around 150 kilometers from its destination.

Heri Purwanto, head of the Banjarmasin Sea Port Authority, said the ship, which was also carrying vehicles, lost contact at 2:00 am on Sunday. "We responded quickly to the incident report... our main focus and top priority at this time is the safety of everyone on board," he said.

How are families responding to the Indonesia ferry disaster?

Rescue authorities have set up a command centre at Banjarmasin port, with paramedics and ambulances on standby, an AFP reporter said. Dozens of relatives and friends of passengers gathered to check a whiteboard listing the names of those rescued.

Jenah, 26, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, told AFP she came to the command post seeking information about her older brother. "I am saddened and very shocked. Until now, I haven't received any more information," she said, adding that he had been travelling alone and she hoped he survived.

Why do ferry accidents happen so often in Indonesia?

Marine accidents occur regularly in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands that relies heavily on boats for daily transport and tourism. Lax safety standards and unpredictable weather are the main causes of these disasters, officials and rescuers say.

On Monday, a speedboat carrying eight people, including five journalists covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, went missing near the volcano in Banten province, with the search still ongoing. The journalists had been sent to cover an eruption that paralyzed Jakarta's main airport and several others.

Last month, a fire aboard a ferry sailing from Bali to Lombok killed one person and left five missing, while 211 passengers were rescued in the Lombok Strait. In July, a ferry carrying more than 70 people sank near Selayar, a small island south of Sulawesi.