Death toll rises to 26 in Indonesia ferry disaster

On September 13, the Virgo Transport 8 ferry capsized in the Java Sea during a voyage from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members. As of September 23, the official death toll has risen to 26, with 109 individuals still reported missing and 108 survivors identified.

Rescue operations are currently focused on the ship's interior, where divers successfully breached cabin windows on Tuesday. Authorities, led by Mohammad Syafii of the National Rescue Agency, noted that recent recoveries include bodies located inside the vessel and others discovered washed ashore in Central Kalimantan, approximately 253 kilometers from the crash site. The disaster occurred amid adverse weather conditions.

The search mission continues to expand, with regional officials from the Banjarmasin rescue agency, including I Putu Sudayana, coordinating the underwater effort. Rescuers aim to locate further victims within the submerged cabins as the investigation into the incident proceeds.