Indonesian ferry capsizes with 243 aboard: 6 dead, 130 still missing

A passenger vessel in Indonesia has capsized during rough weather, leaving six people dead and 130 missing, while 107 survivors have been recovered by rescue teams, according to Indonesia's search and rescue service and Transport Ministry.

The ship, identified as Virgo Transport 8, departed on Saturday from Surabaya on the island of Java, headed for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. In the early hours of Sunday morning, during a period of bad weather, the vessel lost contact with coast guard services.

Rescue operation underway

Search and rescue teams located 107 survivors. Six fatalities have been confirmed. The fates of the remaining 130 people remain unknown as emergency services continue their search. Indonesia is an archipelago nation heavily dependent on maritime transport, where vessel accidents are relatively frequent due to challenging sea conditions and issues with aging fleets.