Indonesian Authorities Rescue 103 People From Ship in Java Sea
Indonesian authorities have rescued 103 people from the passenger ship Virgo Transport 8 after it lost contact in the Java Sea with over 240 people on board.
One hundred and three people have been rescued from the passenger ship Virgo Transport 8, which lost contact earlier today in the Java Sea, according to Indonesia's search and rescue agency.
Indonesian authorities launched a search and rescue operation on Sunday for the vessel carrying more than 240 people after communication was lost in the Java Sea. The ship was traveling from East Java on Java Island to South Kalimantan province on Borneo Island.
According to the search and rescue office in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, cited by the Associated Press, authorities received a report about two hours after contact was lost, around 2:00 AM.
The vessel's operator reported the incident after receiving information that the ship encountered severe weather, said I Putu Sudiana, head of the search and rescue office, to AP.
Preliminary information indicates the ship's last known position was in the Java Sea, about 148 kilometers from the pier in Banjarmasin. Over 240 passengers were registered on board. No casualties have been reported at this stage.
Sudiana, who is coordinating the search operations, stated that authorities are deploying all available personnel and resources due to the large number of passengers and crew members on board. He added that the search and rescue office is coordinating with maritime authorities and other agencies while closely monitoring weather conditions in the area.
