BANJARMASIN, Indonesia: Rescuers in Indonesia said at least six people were killed and 130 others were missing on Sunday after a ferry sailing between the islands of Java and Borneo was hit by bad weather and capsized.
The Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 passengers and crew, had lost contact with its shipping company early on Sunday after departing from Surabaya in East Java.
Basarnas, Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, said in its latest update that six people were killed and 130 were missing. It said 107 people had been rescued.
There were 213 passengers and 30 crew members on board, the agency added.
Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the ship had capsized.
Local search and rescue chief I Putu Sudayana earlier said that the ship's captain had reported to its owners before losing contact that the vessel was "tilting".
Rescuers battled waves of up to 2.5 metres to reach the ferry, Sudayana told reporters.
"It is extremely risky for vessels. Even our Basarnas vessel, which is 40 metres long, is at great risk," he said.
A Basarnas helicopter has joined the operation, he added.
The vessel's last position had been detected in the Java Sea, around 150 kilometres from its destination.
Heri Purwanto, head of the Banjarmasin Sea Port Authority, said the ship, which was also carrying vehicles, lost contact at 2:00 am on Sunday.
"We responded quickly to the incident report... Our main focus and top priority at this time is the safety of everyone on board the ship, and we are deploying a coordinated rescue operation," Heri Purwanto said.
Rescue authorities have established a command centre at the Banjarmasin port, with paramedics and ambulances on standby, a reporter saw. - AFP
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