BANJARMASIN, thekabarnews.com – Indonesian rescue teams expanded a sea and air operation on Sunday, September 13. The operation was after the passenger vessel Virgo Transport 8 capsized in severe weather in the Java Sea while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.

The official manifest listed 243 people aboard, comprising 213 passengers and 30 crew members. A midday update from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported that rescuers had saved 102 people alive and recovered one passenger’s body.

Based on those figures, about 140 people remained unaccounted for. Additionally, Basarnas reported 103 evacuees in total.

A preliminary count supplied by state port operator Pelindo put the number evacuated at 115. This included one person who died and another who was injured.

Officials had not reconciled the difference between the Pelindo and Basarnas figures as of Sunday afternoon. The casualty and missing-person totals therefore remain subject to verification.

Virgo Transport 8 departed Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday and was heading to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. The vessel’s last reported position was approximately 80 nautical miles, or 148 kilometers, from the Basirih search-and-rescue pier in Banjarmasin.

According to Basarnas, the vessel lost contact at around 2 a.m. WITA. Its operator reported the communication failure to the Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office at 4:10 a.m.

The captain had earlier reported severe weather and waves reaching up to three meters. He then informed authorities that the vessel was listing.

Dhany Rachmad, general manager of Pelindo’s Kotabaru port, said information collected through the emergency coordination group indicated that the ship had sunk. This happened after developing a leak and overturning.

“Based on the information from the field and the data we collected, it has already sunk,” Dhany said in an interview with Radio Suara Surabaya.

He said the ship’s crew had attempted to respond as the vessel began leaning to one side.

“The captain’s initial report said the ship had developed a leak and was listing,” he said.

Authorities have not determined what caused the reported leak. Although the ship encountered rough weather before it capsized, investigators have not formally established the weather as the cause of the accident.

Basarnas deployed the rescue vessel KN SAR Laksmana 241 to the last known position. Passing vessels also helped recover passengers from the water.

Sixteen evacuees were expected to be taken to Tuban Port in East Java aboard the tugboat TB Mahau 9. Meanwhile, others were transported to Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin.

The joint operation also involved maritime agencies, police units and a Basarnas helicopter dispatched from Surabaya. The aircraft stopped at Syamsudin Noor Airport to refuel before continuing the aerial search.

Basarnas urged passengers’ families to remain calm and rely on official updates as rescuers continued searching the Java Sea. Officials were also working to verify the manifest and consolidate evacuation reports before releasing a definitive toll.