Divers Recover Three Bodies from Capsized Indonesian Ferry, Death Toll Rises to Nine
Indonesian divers have recovered three bodies from the capsized ferry Virgo Transport 8, bringing the confirmed death toll to nine with 126 people still missing. Rescue operations continue in challenging conditions, including near-zero visibility and flooded compartments, while a legally mandated salvage operation by the ship's owner proceeds concurrently.
Rescue teams in Indonesia have recovered three additional bodies from the wreckage of the ferry Virgo Transport 8, raising the confirmed number of fatalities to nine. As of Friday, 126 people remain missing following the vessel’s sinking in the Java Sea.
The capsized ship was discovered five days after it went down during bad weather last Sunday. The ferry had departed from Surabaya in East Java province on a scheduled 20-hour voyage to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Approximately 108 passengers were rescued on the day of the accident.
Currents at the site initially measured nearly 7 knots, which is well above the 1.5-knot safety limit for diving. However, these currents eased to between 1.8 and 2 knots by Friday, allowing divers to enter the ship. Despite this improvement, rescue efforts have been complicated by waves up to 2.5 metres high and strong winds. The vessel drifted about 1.8 nautical miles after the incident before settling on the seabed in water depths ranging from 40 to 50 metres.
A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway, involving approximately 60 divers among a total force of 1,100 personnel. This team is supported by 17 ships and 5 aircraft. Divers face significant hazards, including near-zero visibility and the risk of air pockets escaping when opening sealed, flooded compartments.
The Virgo Transport 8 is a 3,880-tonne roll-on/roll-off vessel measuring 119 metres in length. Built in Japan in 1987, the ship was transporting 89 vehicles when it capsized about 800 kilometres northeast of Jakarta.
While rescue operations continue, PT Virgo Karya Shipping, the vessel's owner, began a legally mandated salvage operation on Friday to right the ship. Authorities note that concurrent salvage activities may complicate access to the vessel for rescuers. Distress and anguish persist among the friends and families of the missing passengers as the search continues under high-risk conditions.