One person has died and 102 others were rescued on Sunday after a ferry carrying 243 people went missing off the Indonesian island of Java, according to local search and rescue officials.
The vessel was travelling between Java and Borneo when it encountered severe weather and lost contact, prompting a major search and rescue operation in difficult sea conditions.
Local search and rescue chief I Putu Sudayana said emergency crews had rescued 103 passengers in total, including the person who later died.
“We have carried out efforts to search for victims to the fullest extent,” Sudayana told reporters. “There were passengers who had already been successfully evacuated by the units at the scene.”
He said one passenger had died, although officials did not immediately provide details about the person’s identity or the circumstances surrounding the death.
Rescuers faced waves reaching up to 2.5 metres as they attempted to reach the ferry. Sudayana described conditions as extremely risky for vessels involved in the operation.
“Even our Basarnas vessel, which is 40 metres long, is at great risk,” he said, referring to Indonesia’s national Search and Rescue Agency.
The operation continued as authorities worked to evacuate passengers and search for anyone who remained aboard or was missing. The difficult weather conditions complicated efforts by rescue crews operating in the area.
The incident highlights the risks faced by maritime transport in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where ferries and other boats are an important part of everyday travel between communities.
The latest ferry emergency comes as Indonesian authorities are also searching for another vessel that went missing earlier this week.
A speedboat carrying eight people, including five journalists covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatoa, disappeared during the week. The search for that vessel was still continuing.
Indonesia’s extensive network of islands means maritime transport plays a central role in moving passengers and goods. Ferries regularly connect major islands and remote communities, but journeys can become dangerous when weather conditions deteriorate.
Authorities were continuing rescue efforts on Sunday as crews faced challenging seas while attempting to locate and assist any remaining passengers from the missing ferry.
