One dead and 140 missing after passenger ferry hits bad weather as urgent search & rescue launched in Indonesia

AT least one person has died and a further 140 passengers are still missing from a stricken Indonesian passenger ferry. Rescuers lost contact with the Virgo Transport 8 ship, which was carrying 243 people, after it hit bad weather in the Java sea. A major search operation is underway after a ferry went missing in the Java sea Credit: AFP Families members of affected passengers read updates on a whiteboard Credit: AFP An urgent search operation is underway, with 103 of the passengers being evacuated so far. The stricken ship had been travelling from Surayaba, the country’s second largest city, to the south Kalimantan city of Banjarmasin. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Its location was last reported to be around 90 miles south of the destination at 2am. Search and rescue chief I Putu Sudayana said: “We can inform you that the total number of evacuated passengers is 103 people. More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us on TikTok @TheSun. Comment now