Family Searches for Answers After Ferry Disaster Leaves More Than 100 Missing

Families in Indonesia are continuing to wait for news of loved ones after a passenger ferry sank in the Java Sea, leaving 107 people still missing nearly two weeks after the disaster.

The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, when it capsized in bad weather early on September 13 while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.

By September 23, authorities had confirmed 28 deaths and 108 survivors, while the search for those still missing continued.

Rescuers have been focusing their efforts on the wreck itself. Divers have entered parts of the overturned vessel while search teams have recovered bodies from inside the ship and from nearby waters.

Nine bodies were recovered on September 23 alone, according to Indonesian rescue officials. Two additional bodies were found after washing ashore more than 250 kilometres from the original accident site.

The operation has been complicated by murky water and strong underwater currents. Divers previously broke through cabin windows but were unable to enter some areas safely.

Authorities have extended the search operation until September 27, while efforts are also underway to reposition the capsized ferry to make access to its interior easier.

For families waiting on shore, the search has been a painful period of uncertainty. Some relatives have been travelling between rescue centres and hospitals, waiting for authorities to confirm whether their loved ones have survived.

The disaster has also raised questions about the challenges faced by rescue teams when a large passenger vessel sinks in Indonesian waters.

More than a week after the accident, rescuers are still working through the wreckage in the hope of finding additional survivors and recovering those who remain missing.

Sources:
Reuters report via AsiaOne – Death toll from capsized Indonesian ship climbs
Reuters Connect – Relatives wait for updates after ferry disaster