Rescuers Search Java Sea for 140 Missing People

The ship's operator contacted the authorities after hearing that the vessel had run into bad weather. The search and rescue office received the report two hours after contact was lost, but its head, I Putu Sudayana, did not say what had happened to the ship. The broadcaster ABC (the American Broadcasting Company) and Fox News reported no immediate deaths or injuries, and Fox News said the cause was still unclear. Indonesia is made up of about 17,000 islands, so many people depend on ferries, which are cheaper and easier to find than flights. However, safety rules are not always strictly followed, and accidents are relatively common.

Sudayana, who is leading the search, said the authorities were using all available staff and equipment because there were so many passengers and crew on board. A rescue team went to a pier in Banjarmasin, while ships and a helicopter were sent to the ship's last known position. Some evacuated people were expected to go to a port in East Java. The agency is also working with maritime officials and watching the weather. The ship's passenger list showed 241 passengers. The search is continuing.