World · Malaysia Bureau
Indonesian ferry with 243 people missing after losing contact at sea
A passenger ferry operating between East Java and South Kalimantan has gone missing in rough seas, prompting a search and rescue operation. The vessel departed Surabaya on Saturday bound for Banjarmasin before communications were lost during adverse weather conditions.
LSN Malaysia ·
Authorities in Indonesia have launched a search operation for a ferry carrying 243 people that disappeared in waters between East Java and South Kalimantan. The ship left the port city of Surabaya on Saturday morning en route to Banjarmasin, a major city in South Kalimantan province.
Contact with the vessel was lost during a period of bad weather as it navigated the waters between the two regions. The circumstances surrounding the loss of communication remain unclear, though maritime officials have indicated that rough sea conditions were prevailing in the area at the time.
Search and rescue teams have been mobilised to locate the missing ferry and its passengers and crew. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about maritime safety in Indonesian waters, where ferries and cargo ships regularly operate across archipelago routes despite challenging weather patterns during certain seasons.
Updates on the search operation and condition of those aboard the vessel are expected to be released by Indonesian maritime authorities as the rescue effort continues.