Indonesian rescue operation launched after passenger ship loses contact
Indonesian rescuers launched a search operation Sunday after a passenger ship carrying at least 240 people lost contact in the Java Sea while traveling from East Java to South Kalimantan on Borneo island, reports BritPanorama.
The Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan province, stated they received a report that the Virgo Transport 8 experienced a communication failure while en route to the city from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city in East Java province.
Initial information indicated the vessel’s last known position was in the Java Sea, about 92 miles from a pier in Banjarmasin. The ship’s manifest confirmed it was carrying 241 passengers.
No immediate reports of casualties have been recorded. Arianto Ardi, operations chief at Banjarmasin’s rescue agency, confirmed the loss of contact with the vessel and noted that rescue personnel had been dispatched to the area.
“We have established an operations post at Trisakti,” Arianto said.
Authorities reported that the ship’s operator informed them of the incident after receiving information about the vessel encountering bad weather.
