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Indonesia launches recovery bid as 129 still missing from capsized ferry

Indonesian rescue teams are preparing to right the Virgo Transport 8, which capsized during rough seas while transporting 243 passengers and crew. More than half of those aboard remain unaccounted for as search and recovery operations continue.

LSN Malaysia · 17 September 2026

Indonesia launches recovery bid as 129 still missing from capsized ferry

The Virgo Transport 8 overturned in heavy weather while en route from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, triggering a major search and rescue effort across the region. Officials have confirmed that 129 people remain missing following the incident, while rescue teams continue to comb surrounding waters for survivors.

Authorities have begun preliminary work to recover and right the vessel as part of the broader recovery operation. Indonesian rescue personnel are coordinating efforts to locate missing passengers and crew members, with search operations extending across the affected maritime area.

The incident has prompted heightened focus on maritime safety protocols in the region. The circumstances surrounding the capsizing are under investigation, with authorities examining weather conditions and vessel operations at the time of the emergency.