The death toll from the capsizing of Virgo Transport 8 in Indonesia’s Java Sea has risen to 20, with 115 people still missing as search and rescue operations continue.
The ferry capsized in bad weather early on 13 September while sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. It was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, as well as an unknown number of vehicles.
National Rescue Agency head Mohammad Syafii said 108 people survived the accident.
Search teams recovered eight bodies from inside the ferry over three days. Two more bodies were found on the coast of Central Kalimantan province, about 253 km from the site of the accident.
Five bodies were recovered on Monday, four on Tuesday and another on Wednesday morning. Search operations on Wednesday focused on the vessel’s cabins, where passengers had been found.
Divers broke cabin windows on Tuesday but could not enter because of strong currents and poor underwater visibility.
The search and rescue operation was extended until the following Sunday, while 115 people remained unaccounted for.
