Race against time: 129 people still missing after Indonesian ferry overturns

BANJARMASIN, Indonesia — September 14, 2026:
A major search-and-rescue operation is underway in Indonesia’s Java Sea after a passenger ferry overturned in rough weather, leaving 129 people missing and at least six confirmed dead.

The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people, including passengers and crew, when it ran into severe weather while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Authorities said 108 people have so far been rescued.

Rough seas hamper rescue efforts

Rescue teams are facing dangerous conditions as strong winds and waves reaching around three metres make it difficult to reach and search the overturned vessel.

Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency has deployed more than 600 personnel, along with ships, helicopters and aircraft. Specialized underwater rescue teams and naval underwater drones are also being prepared to assist with the operation when conditions allow.

The ferry was found partially submerged and overturned in waters near the Masalembo Islands, roughly 148 kilometres from Banjarmasin. Rescuers have been concentrating their efforts around the vessel and surrounding waters.

What caused the ferry to overturn?

Officials said the ship was hit by powerful waves from its starboard side, causing it to lean heavily before eventually capsizing.

The captain had reportedly issued a distress call after the vessel began listing in the rough conditions. Authorities have not yet established a final cause of the disaster, and an investigation is expected to examine the vessel, weather conditions and other possible contributing factors.

Indonesia’s Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the vessel had a capacity of about 500 passengers, meaning officials did not initially consider overloading to be the cause of the accident.

Families wait anxiously for news

As the search continues, relatives of those aboard have gathered at Banjarmasin’s Trisakti port, waiting for updates from authorities.

For families still searching for loved ones, every hour has become critical as rescue teams battle the difficult conditions at sea.

A wider maritime safety concern

The accident has renewed concerns about maritime safety in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where ferries and other passenger vessels remain an important and affordable means of transportation.

The Java Sea has also been the scene of previous major maritime disasters. Recent ferry accidents in Indonesia have further raised questions about safety standards and emergency preparedness across the country’s extensive network of sea routes.

For now, rescuers remain focused on one priority: finding the 129 people still missing and bringing them home safely.