At least 102 people have been rescued alive and one body recovered after an Indonesian passenger ferry, the Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 passengers and crew went missing amidst harsh weather in the Java Sea. Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) confirmed the update on Monday (September 14, 2026).
According to official reports, the ferry was en route from the port of Surabaya to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Contact with the vessel was completely lost around 2:00 AM local time on Sunday (September 13, 2026), approximately 150 kilometers south of Banjarmasin, as it encountered rough seas and adverse weather conditions.
Immediately following the loss of signal, a coordinated maritime search-and-rescue operation was launched involving the Indonesian Navy, Basarnas, and nearby commercial ships. Multiple rescue vessels and a helicopter have been deployed to search for the remaining missing passengers. Maritime authorities have issued alerts to all vessels navigating the Java Sea, instructing them to maintain vigilance and immediately report any stranded passengers spotted at sea. The tragedy follows another recent maritime accident last month, where a ferry fire near Madura Island claimed five lives.
