Indonesian rescue teams have recovered additional bodies from the wreckage of a ferry that capsized in the Java Sea two weeks ago, bringing the confirmed death toll to 64. The vessel, known as the Virgo Transport 8, was carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members when it lost contact with its operator after departing from Surabaya for Borneo island. Of the 243 people on board, only 108 have been rescued.
Yudhi Bramantyo, the Operation Director of the National Search and Rescue Agency, confirmed that rescue teams recovered four bodies from inside the submerged vessel on Friday, while an additional seven bodies were located along nearby shorelines. A search operation for the 71 people still missing, all of whom are presumed dead, has been extended for another seven days.
Under current Indonesian regulations, search-and-rescue operations typically last for one week, though authorities may extend this period if they believe there is a possibility of finding more victims. Bramantyo noted that the operation will be evaluated every three days to determine whether further extensions are necessary. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation. Maritime disasters occur regularly in the region, with weak safety enforcement frequently cited as a primary cause.
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