Rescuers Search Java Sea for 140 Missing People

The ship's operator alerted authorities after learning that the vessel had run into bad weather, and the search and rescue office in Banjarmasin said it received the report two hours after contact was lost. I Putu Sudayana, who heads that office, did not say what had happened to the ship itself. Reports from the US broadcaster ABC (the American Broadcasting Company) and from Fox News, which cited the Associated Press, said there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, and Fox News noted that it was unclear what had caused the loss of contact. The incident also highlights a wider concern. Indonesia is an archipelago of some 17,000 islands, and ferries are a vital form of transport there, as sea routes are more affordable and more readily available than air travel. However, safety standards are not always rigorously enforced, which has contributed to a relatively high accident rate.

Sudayana, who is coordinating the operation, said authorities were mobilising all available personnel and equipment because the vessel had been carrying such a large number of passengers and crew. A rescue team was dispatched to Banjarmasin's Basirih search and rescue pier, while ships and a helicopter were sent towards the vessel's last known position. Some of those evacuated were expected to be taken to a port in East Java. The agency said it was working closely with maritime authorities and other relevant agencies while monitoring weather conditions in the area. The ship's manifest listed 241 passengers, and the search for those still missing was continuing.