Passenger ship goes missing in Indonesia

Communication has been lost with the passenger ship Virgo Transport 8, which set sail from the city of Surabaya in East Java province, Indonesia, bound for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province.

It was reported that there were a total of 243 people on board, including passengers and crew. Indonesian search and rescue authorities announced that search and rescue operations have been launched following the loss of contact with the vessel.

Head of the Search and Rescue Office Putu Sudayana stated that teams were mobilized following the report, saying, “We received a report that communication with the ship named Virgo Transport 8 had been lost, and we immediately dispatched personnel and a rescue vessel to its last estimated position.”

Officials announced that operations are being conducted around the ship's last estimated position. No further information has been shared yet regarding the fate of the ship or the condition of those on board.