THE FERRY WAS CARRYING 243 PEOPLE — NOW 129 ARE STILL MISSING AFTER IT CAPSIZED AT SEA

A MASSIVE SEARCH IS UNDERWAY IN INDONESIA AFTER THE VIRGO TRANSPORT 8 OVERTURNED IN ROUGH WEATHER, LEAVING FAMILIES WAITING DESPERATELY FOR NEWS.

A passenger ferry carrying 243 people capsized in the Java Sea during severe weather, triggering a massive search-and-rescue operation as authorities confirmed six deaths and said 129 people remain missing.

The vessel, Virgo Transport 8, was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it lost contact early Sunday.

Authorities have so far rescued 108 people, but the fate of more than half of those aboard remains unknown.

CONTACT WAS LOST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

According to Indonesian authorities, the ferry departed Surabaya on Saturday carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members.

The ship lost contact at around 2 a.m. local time as it encountered increasingly difficult weather conditions in the Java Sea.

The Banjarmasin search-and-rescue office was alerted shortly afterward, and emergency teams were dispatched to locate the vessel and survivors.

Rough seas and strong waves have made the operation extremely challenging.

SURVIVORS CLUNG TO THE STRICKEN SHIP

Among those rescued was passenger Rinto Arahab, who described desperately trying to survive after the vessel overturned.

He told Reuters that he held onto the ship’s railings after it flipped, eventually reaching a higher part of the stricken vessel as it was tossed around by the waves.

“I could only pray for my safety,” he said.

Other survivors were transported to safety as rescuers continued searching the surrounding waters.

129 PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING

The latest official figures have made the scale of the disaster even clearer.

Of the 243 people believed to have been aboard:

• 6 have died
• 108 have been rescued
• 129 remain missing

The figures could still change as authorities continue verifying the passenger manifest and rescue reports.

More than 600 rescuers have been deployed, with around a dozen ships involved in the search. Authorities are also using other resources to scan the area for survivors.

FAMILIES WAIT FOR ANSWERS

As the search continued, anxious relatives gathered at a command center in Banjarmasin.

For many families, there was still no confirmation about whether their loved ones had survived.

The uncertainty has made the rescue operation a race against time.

Rescuers are continuing to search despite difficult sea conditions, hoping to find more people alive.

WHAT CAUSED THE FERRY TO OVERTURN?

Authorities have linked the incident to severe weather, with reports describing rough seas and powerful waves in the area.

The captain had reportedly indicated that the vessel was tilting before communication was lost.

However, the exact cause of the capsizing has not yet been established, and authorities are continuing their investigation.

The Virgo Transport 8 remains partially afloat and overturned in the Java Sea, while rescue crews continue working around the vessel.

THE SEARCH IS STILL UNDERWAY

For the families gathered in Banjarmasin, the numbers tell only part of the story.

Behind the figure of 129 missing are parents, children, spouses, siblings and friends whose loved ones were aboard the ferry.

And as rescue crews continue searching the Java Sea, families are holding onto the possibility that more survivors could still be found.

The search for the missing passengers continues.