Ferry carrying 243 loses contact in storm; one confirmed dead, 102 evacuated

An Indonesian passenger ferry with 243 people aboard lost communication with its operator early Sunday while crossing the Java Sea in rough weather. Rescue teams have so far recovered one body and evacuated 102 passengers, with search operations continuing for the rest. High waves of up to 2.5 metres are complicating the rescue effort, according to local officials.

The Virgo Transport 8 departed Surabaya on Saturday evening, bound for Banjarmasin on Borneo, a route crossing the Java Sea. Communication was lost in the early hours of Sunday, with the vessel's final reported position roughly 150 kilometres from its destination. Rescue ships and a helicopter have been deployed, though officials note that waves reaching 2.5 metres are making the operation dangerous even for their own 40-metre rescue vessel.

This incident follows two recent maritime tragedies in Indonesian waters. A ferry fire between Bali and Lombok last month killed one person and left five unaccounted for, while a July sinking near Selayar Island involved more than 70 passengers. These events highlight recurring safety concerns in the archipelago's heavily used ferry network, where storm-season travel remains a persistent risk.