Six people have died and 107 have been rescued from a stricken Indonesian passenger ferry in the Java Sea, according to Indonesia's search and rescue agency. The vessel, Virgo Transport 8, was carrying 243 people and encountered bad weather, leading to the loss of contact. The search for the remaining passengers is ongoing, with 130 still missing.

The ferry was en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin when it last reported its position around 150 kilometers south of Banjarmasin at 02:00 local time on Sunday. Authorities received the distress report at 04:10 from the vessel's operator, PT Virgo. The ship left Surabaya at 10:33 on Saturday and was scheduled to arrive in Banjarmasin on Sunday at 14:00, according to maritime monitoring data.

A joint task force involving Indonesia's search and rescue agency, navy, maritime police, and other parties has been established for the rescue effort. Ships and a helicopter have been deployed, with 280 personnel participating in the operation. All vessels in the Java Sea have been alerted to report any signs of passengers.

Rusmilawati, a resident of Banjarmasin, sought information about eight relatives who were passengers on the ship. They were returning to Banjarmasin after visiting Islamic scholars' tombs in Java. She said she had not received any official information about their status. One relative had last communicated via WhatsApp, expressing concern about the sea conditions.

Meanwhile, Misnah broke down in tears after learning that her husband, Ahmad Supandi, had survived. He was rescued by the vessel MV Haida. Relatives of crew members, including Fredy, who said his sibling Stevie Manuhua worked as a keyboard player on the ship, have also been seeking information. Fredy said he had not received any news about his sibling's whereabouts.

Sources differ on the casualty count. BBC News reported six deaths and 107 rescues, while NDTV World cited one death and 102 rescues. The Indonesian search and rescue chief, I Putu Sudayana, stated that 103 passengers had been evacuated, with one confirmed dead and at least 125 missing. The discrepancy highlights the need for further verification.

The incident follows a separate ferry fire off Madura island last month that killed five. Indonesia's archipelago, with over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transport and tourism. Lax safety standards and unpredictable weather are cited as main causes of marine accidents. Recent incidents include a speedboat disappearance near Mount Anak Krakatau and a ferry fire in the Lombok Strait.

What remains unknown is the exact number of casualties, the full list of missing persons, and the cause of the vessel's distress. The search and rescue operation continues, with authorities urging patience and vigilance from the public.