Indonesia Ferry Capsizes, Six Killed

At least six people were killed and 129 others remained missing after a ferry capsized in rough seas off Indonesia on Sunday, while 108 people were rescued, authorities said.

The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members, lost contact with its shipping company early Sunday after departing from Surabaya in East Java.

Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, Basarnas, said six people had died and 129 were still missing. A total of 108 people were rescued from the vessel.

Survivor Rinto Arahap, 33, told AFP that panic broke out as the ferry began to tilt. Many passengers were asleep when the vessel started listing at around 2:00 am on Sunday.

“People were panicking. Some climbed onto tables, some were pushing each other,” Arahap said.

He said he later heard what sounded like metal breaking, about five hours into the journey. With waves reaching more than two metres, passengers began shouting and scrambling for life jackets as the vessel tilted further.

Arahap said there had been no warning from the crew before the emergency became apparent, with passengers alerted after someone shouted that the ship was listing.

Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed that the ferry had capsized.

Local search and rescue chief I Putu Sudayana said the ship’s captain had reported to the vessel’s owners before contact was lost that the ferry was “tilting”.

Rescuers faced waves of up to 2.5 metres while trying to reach the vessel, Sudayana said.

Two helicopters and several vessels from the navy, police, Basarnas and the ferry company were involved in the search and rescue operation.

The first rescue vessel carrying survivors reached a pier in Banjarmasin, on the southern coast of Borneo, before nightfall. Several survivors were taken away on stretchers, while others were transported in wheelchairs or helped to ambulances.

Authorities continued searching for the missing passengers and crew.