Banjarmasin. At least 130 people remain missing after the Virgo Transport 8 ferry, carrying 243 people according to its manifest, capsized in the Java Sea on Sunday, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said.

Authorities have rescued 107 people, while six others have been confirmed dead.

Basarnas has deployed 15 vessels and aircraft in a major search-and-rescue operation, comprising 11 ships, one helicopter, and three airplanes.

The search is focused on waters around the accident site near the Masalembo Islands in the Java Sea, with authorities mobilizing resources from multiple agencies to locate those still missing.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the government would conduct a comprehensive investigation into the accident through the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), but stressed that rescuing passengers and crew remained the immediate priority.

“Our priority right now is to find and rescue as many passengers and crew members of the KMP Virgo Transport 8 as possible,” Dudy said in Jakarta.

The Virgo Transport 8 departed Surabaya on Sept. 12 bound for Banjarmasin and lost contact at around 2 a.m. local time on Sept. 13.

Dudy urged all parties to allow the KNKT to conduct its investigation professionally and independently, saying the inquiry should be based on data and evidence to establish the cause of the accident objectively.

He said the findings would be used to evaluate and improve maritime transportation safety standards and help prevent similar accidents in the future.

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