Indonesia launches rescue operation for ship with 240 aboard

The Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin, capital of South Kalimantan province, confirmed Sunday that the passenger ship experienced a communication breakdown while crossing the Java Sea. The vessel was carrying 240 people on its journey from Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, to Banjarmasin on Borneo island.

According to rescue officials, the Virgo Transport 8 was last detected approximately 148 kilometres from Banjarmasin pier when contact was lost. The ship's last known position places it in the Java Sea, a major maritime corridor in Indonesia's central region.

Authorities have not reported any casualties at this stage, though rescue teams are actively working to locate the vessel and establish communication with those aboard. The search operation comes as Indonesia continues to rely heavily on sea transport to connect its sprawling archipelago of islands.

The Java Sea, while a well-travelled shipping route, remains subject to unpredictable weather conditions and communication challenges in certain areas. Details on the cause of the communication failure have not yet been disclosed by rescue coordinators.