Indonesian authorities have begun salvage operations to recover bodies and right a passenger ferry that capsized in the Java Sea, as 126 people remain missing.
The Virgo Transport 8 capsized early Sunday while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. The ferry was carrying 243 passengers and crew members on a 20-hour journey.
Divers entered the overturned vessel on Friday and recovered the bodies of two men and one woman. However, strong currents forced authorities to suspend the underwater search.
Officials said nine people have now been confirmed dead, while 108 others have been rescued. A total of 126 passengers and crew members are still missing.
Specialist divers capable of operating at depths of more than 100 metres have been deployed to support the recovery operation.
Bad weather, strong currents and large waves have severely hampered rescue efforts over the past five days. Around 1,100 rescuers have been involved in the search.
Authorities plan to tow the ferry into shallower waters before attempting to turn it upright. Officials said recovery efforts would resume more fully once the vessel has been stabilised.
The ferry remains difficult to access because it is unstable, with trapped air and empty compartments creating a risk that the hull could shift unexpectedly.
The incident highlights Indonesia's heavy reliance on ferry transportation across its thousands of islands, where sea travel is often more affordable and accessible than air travel.
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