128 still missing after Indonesia ferry sinking as 109 rescued

At least 128 people remain missing after a ferry sank in Indonesia’s Java Sea, while 109 have been rescued and six are confirmed dead, local media reported Tuesday.

Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said 115 of the 243 passengers and crew aboard the Virgo Transport 8 had been found, according to the state-run Antara news agency.

The vessel sank in the early hours of Sunday in waters off Tanjung Selatan, South Kalimantan, near Masalembu Island.

South Kalimantan authorities are arranging for the recovering survivors to return to their homes once they are medically and psychologically fit to travel.

“After we asked them, most of the survivors said they wanted to return home quickly,” South Kalimantan Governor Muhidin said, according to Antara.

Authorities are also helping survivors who lost identity documents obtain the police certificates needed to purchase airline tickets.

Fifteen survivors remain hospitalized in Banjarmasin, including six at Ulin Regional General Hospital, seven at Bhayangkara Hospital and two at Sultan Suriansyah Hospital.

Another 59 passengers in good health have been temporarily housed in accommodation provided by the provincial government.

Search and rescue operations are continuing for those still unaccounted for, with Basarnas and other Indonesian agencies involved in efforts to locate the missing passengers and crew.