Jakarta: Indonesian search and rescue teams have been deployed after the Virgo Transport 8 lost contact while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, authorities said.
The vessel was reported to have encountered severe weather before communication was lost early on Sunday. Its last known position was in the Java Sea, around 148 kilometres from Banjarmasin.
The Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office said it received information about the missing vessel in the early hours of Sunday and immediately dispatched personnel and rescue assets towards its last known location.
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Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, Basarnas, said the ship was carrying 243 passengers and crew, although earlier reports had placed the number on board at 241.
Rescue vessel KN SAR Laksmana 241 was among the assets sent to the area as authorities established a search operation and coordinated efforts from Banjarmasin.
Officials said the ship’s operator reported the incident after receiving information that the vessel had run into bad weather during its journey.
Authorities initially said there were no reports of casualties as the search began. The operation remained underway as teams attempted to establish the vessel’s condition and locate those on board.
