Indonesian Ferry Tragedy Triggers Massive Search as Dozens Feared Dead

A passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea during rough seas en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, leaving at least six dead and 129 missing. More than 240 people were aboard (manifest lists 243). Rescue teams—17 ships and aircraft with about 655 personnel—rescued 108 survivors and recovered six bodies as the search continued. The cause is under investigation; survivors described overcrowding and a sudden list with little warning. Ferries are a common travel mode in Indonesia, but safety enforcement is often weak.