Indonesia ship carrying 240 people loses contact in Java Sea, search operation underway

A passenger ship carrying around 240 people has lost contact in the Java Sea while travelling from to South Kalimantan on Borneo island. A search and rescue operation has been launched to locate the vessel and the people on board.

The incident came to light when the ship, which was traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, suddenly lost contact while traveling through the Java Sea. Authorities have launched a search operation and a rescue vessel is heading to the last known location of the ship.

The passenger vessel was traveling from Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, to Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan, officials said. The Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office said it had received information that the vessel had experienced a communication breakdown during the voyage. The ship’s operator said the ship encountered bad weather after receiving information, said Search and Rescue Office chief I Putu Sudayana.

Initial information given to authorities indicated the ship was last known to be in the Java Sea, about 148 kilometers from a pier in Banjarmasin.

The ship’s operator PT Virgo Yoel Rihi notified authorities of loss of contact. “Based on the information, the vessel departed Surabaya around 10.13am local time on Saturday. After receiving the report, a rescue team was immediately dispatched from the Basirih Search and Rescue Pier in Banjarmasin. A rescue vessel was also sent to the last known possible position of the Virgo Transport 8.

Now the authorities are trying to find out exactly where the ship is and how the people on board are.

No casualties were reported immediately from the incident. But the search operation continues as the ship has been out of contact. The vessel was last seen in the Java Sea, en route to South Kalimantan.

Officials are coordinating search and rescue efforts to find the passenger ship and find out what happened after it lost communication. The operation is still ongoing, the authorities are closely monitoring the situation and trying to establish contact with the vessel.