Jakarta: The death toll from the Virgo Transport 8 ferry disaster in Indonesia rose to 26, while rescuers continued searching for 109 missing passengers in the Java Sea.
The ferry was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, when it capsized and sank during bad weather on September 13. The vessel was travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan and was also carrying an unknown number of vehicles.
Indonesian Coast guard and Navy personnel recovered 14 bodies from inside the vessel. Rescuers also found 2 bodies washed ashore in Central Kalimantan. The bodies were discovered about 253 kilometres from the accident site.
The underwater operation faced difficult conditions. Divers broke through cabin windows on September 22 but could not enter the spaces because of poor visibility and strong currents. Bodies were visible inside the cabins but remained inaccessible.
Rescuers are expected to shift attention to the vehicles inside the ferry once the cabin search progresses. That phase could prove difficult because several vehicles appear to have fallen on top of one another inside the vessel.
The search area has widened as rescue teams continue efforts to locate those still missing. Authorities extended the search and rescue operation until September 27 in response to the continuing recovery effort.
The accident has become one of Indonesia’s major maritime rescue operations in recent days. Authorities continue underwater searches while teams assess the condition of the ferry and determine how best to reach remaining sections of the vessel.
With 109 people still unaccounted for, rescuers are expected to continue searching the ferry and surrounding waters. Difficult underwater conditions remain a major obstacle as the operation enters its next phase.
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