Search for 99 missing passengers from Virgo ferry continues on day 12
Basarnas reports that 99 people are still unaccounted for after the Virgo Transport 8 ferry sank, with 143 rescued or recovered so far.
According to Basarnas head Mohammad Syafii, the ongoing rescue effort has evacuated 108 survivors and recovered 35 deceased, with 36 fatalities already retrieved, leaving 99 passengers still missing. The operation mobilizes roughly 1,256 staff, 17 ships, two Basarnas helicopters, a navy helicopter, an Air Force Boeing aircraft and a police helicopter. Divers face currents of 6-7 knots, far above the safe limit of 0.5-2.5 knots, restricting work to the short periods between high and low tides.
Weather forecasts confirm that underwater searches are only possible during these tidal transitions. Authorities stress that the sunken vessel must be moved within 180 days, requesting that salvage proceed alongside the search to expedite recovery of any remaining victims.
Why it matters
The disaster affects hundreds of families and highlights Indonesia's maritime safety and rescue challenges.
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