Jakarta, Sep 13 (V7N)- An Indonesian passenger vessel carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, has gone missing in the Java Sea, authorities said.
The vessel, identified as Virgo Transport 8, lost contact at around 2:00 am Central Indonesian Time on Sunday while sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, Anadolu Agency reported, citing broadcaster Kompas.
Search operations chief I Putu Sudayana said an emergency alert was received about two hours after contact with the vessel was lost.
Following the alert, a joint search and rescue team was immediately deployed to the area where the vessel was believed to have gone missing.
According to the latest information, the vessel may have encountered adverse weather conditions while sailing in the Java Sea.
Sudayana said the incident occurred approximately 80 nautical miles, or about 92 miles, from the Basirih SAR dock in Banjarmasin.
Search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate the vessel and determine the whereabouts of all 243 people on board.
END/SMA/AJ
