Indonesia ferry sinks in rough weather, more than 100 missing
A ferry carrying 243 people has sunk between Java and Borneo, with Indonesian authorities continuing a search-and-rescue operation.
At least one person has died and more than 100 remain missing after a ferry carrying 243 people sank in rough weather between Indonesia’s Java and Borneo islands, according to France 24 International.
Indonesian authorities said 107 people had been rescued and 130 were missing, although the figures may change as the search continues. Another account cited in the source material reported six deaths, leaving casualty figures unsettled.
The ferry was reportedly travelling from Surabaya, on Java, to Banjarmasin, on Borneo, when it lost contact in bad weather in the Java Sea. The available information does not establish a cause beyond the reported rough conditions.
Ships, a helicopter, navy personnel and maritime police are involved in the search-and-rescue effort, according to background information supplied with the report. Authorities said those aboard included 213 passengers and 30 crew.
The sinking has been described as the region’s second major ferry accident in five days. The incident has renewed reported concerns about ferry safety standards, overcrowding and maintenance, though the source material does not establish those issues as causes of the sinking.
