Indonesian rescuers search for the Virgo Transport 8 with 243 people on board in the Java Sea

Indonesian rescuers are searching for the Virgo Transport 8 with 243 people on board, which lost contact in the Java Sea during a storm, the country's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said.

The ship was traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin. According to rescuers, contact with it was lost around 02.00 local time (21.00 Moscow time Saturday) after the ship encountered adverse weather conditions.

"The vessel's last received position was approximately 80 nautical miles from the SAR Basirih jetty in Banjarmasin," search and rescue coordinator I Putu Sudayana told reporters.

The rescue ship KN SAR Laksmana 241 has been dispatched for the search. The estimated transit time to the area of ​​the last known location of Virgo Transport 8 is about five hours.

The operation also involves naval forces, water police, port and navigation services. Rescuers prepared equipment for operations on the water, kits for divers, communications equipment and a Starlink satellite terminal.

Basarnas emphasized that the search is being intensive due to the large number of passengers and crew members on board. Rescuers called on the relatives of the people on the ship to remain calm and follow official information.