Overview
- The passenger ferry lost radio contact in the early hours on Sunday after the captain reported heavy listing in rough weather and was later found capsized about 148–150 km from Banjarmasin.
- Officials say six people have been recovered dead, roughly 108–115 survivors have been rescued, and about 129–130 remain missing, though authorities warn those numbers may change because passenger lists are uncertain.
- Hundreds of search-and-rescue personnel are operating from more than a dozen ships and several aircraft while the navy has deployed special divers and an underwater drone to examine the upturned hull.
- Rescuers fear people could be trapped inside the interior of the keel-up vessel and are conducting interior and underwater searches while crews contend with high waves and poor conditions.
- The disaster highlights recurring safety problems in Indonesia’s ferry system, including inaccurate manifests, uneven enforcement of inspections, and a string of recent ferry incidents that is increasing pressure for tighter oversight and faster emergency reforms.