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Ship sinks in Indonesia, leaving 6 dead and 130 missing - UPDATED

13 September 2026 16:20 (UTC +04:00)

The “Virgo Transport 8” passenger ship, carrying 243 people, has sunk in the Java Sea, Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency announced, APA reports.

According to the agency, 130 people are missing, 107 have been rescued, and six have died.

The “Virgo Transport 8,” carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, departed from Surabaya in East Java province on Saturday for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province.

A search and rescue operation was launched after contact with the vessel was lost on Sunday morning.

Indonesian rescuers have launched a search operation after losing contact with a passenger ship carrying 241 people, the Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office said, APA reports.

The “Virgo Transport 8” was traveling from Surabaya, East Java, to Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, when communication with the vessel was lost.

According to preliminary information, the ship’s last known position was in the Java Sea, approximately 148 kilometers (92 miles) from the pier in Banjarmasin. The vessel’s manifest showed that 241 passengers were on board.

There have been no reports of deaths or injuries so far.

Arianto Ardi, head of operations at the Banjarmasin rescue agency, confirmed that contact with the vessel had been lost and said rescue teams had been dispatched to the area. An operational command post has also been established in the Trisakti area.

Preliminary reports indicate that the ship’s operator alerted authorities after receiving information that the vessel had encountered adverse weather conditions.