Six people have died and around 130 people are still missing after a ferry travelling between Java and Borneo capsized in bad weather.
The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 passengers and crew when it lost contact with its shipping company after leaving Surabaya in East Java.
Rescuers have found more than 100 people alive. Six people have died and around 130 remain missing.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed the ship had capsized but had not sunk.
The disaster comes when Indonesia’s ferry safety record is increasingly under scrutiny. The safety concerns have particular relevance for Australian travellers. Latest ABS data shows Australians made 1.78 million trips to Indonesia in 2025–26, making it Australia’s number-one overseas destination. Indonesia accounted for 14 per cent of all Australian overseas trips.
Safety body raised concerns days earlier
Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) raised a series of concerns about ferry safety just days before the latest disaster.
On 9 September, KNKT published findings from more than two decades of investigations into passenger Ro-Ro ferries.
The body recorded 46 Ro-Ro accidents in Indonesian waters between 2003 and August 2026, including 19 fires since 2014.
KNKT identified problems with hazardous cargo, overloaded vehicles and manifests – the official records showing the passengers, crew and cargo on board a vessel.
The safety body said shippers often failed to declare dangerous cargo. Cargo records also lacked detail, while operators did not always physically inspect goods after packing.
KNKT called for tighter cargo controls, more accurate passenger records, better firefighting training and stronger safety checks before vessels leave port.
It published the findings just four days before the Virgo Transport 8 capsized.
Authorities have not linked the issues KNKT identified to the latest disaster.
Australians caught up in previous ferry fire
Australians have already been caught up in a recent Indonesian ferry disaster.
Two Australians were among the survivors when the KMP Putri Yasmin caught fire while travelling between Bali and Lombok on 12 August.
One person died and rescuers evacuated more than 200 people after the fire broke out in the Lombok Strait.
The incident also highlighted concerns around passenger manifests.
Initial records listed 114 passengers and 17 crew on board, but authorities ultimately rescued far more people from the vessel.
Smartraveller warns Australians
The Australian Government already warns travellers about the risks of ferry travel in Indonesia.
“Travel by boat or ferry can also be dangerous,” Smartraveller says.
It warns that commercial and private operators may not comply with international safety and maintenance standards.
“Australians have been seriously injured or died at popular tourist beaches or in marine transport incidents,” the advice says.
Smartraveller also warns of rough seas and strong currents around Indonesia.
The latest disaster comes as authorities continue search and rescue operations for those missing from the Virgo Transport 8.
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