Developing story — September 13, 2026. Indonesian rescuers are searching for at least 129 people after the Virgo Transport 8 ferry overturned in the Java Sea on Sunday, according to officials cited by the Associated Press. The latest detailed tally available to us reports 108 people rescued and six bodies recovered. Those figures may change as teams reconcile survivor lists with the passenger manifest.
The ferry was travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Its manifest listed 243 people — 213 passengers and 30 crew — as well as 89 vehicles. Officials warned that the actual number aboard may differ from the manifest.
What rescuers know so far
I Putu Sudayana, head of the Banjarmasin search-and-rescue office, said the captain reported rough seas and waves reaching about three metres before sending a distress call that the vessel was listing. Authorities then received information that it had overturned. Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said aerial searches showed the ferry floating upside down rather than submerged.
Search crews have deployed vessels and helicopters around the ferry’s last known position, roughly 148 kilometres from Banjarmasin. The immediate priority is finding anyone still alive and accounting for everyone aboard.
This article will be updated when Indonesian search-and-rescue authorities release a verified new tally. An earlier estimate should not be treated as a final death or missing-person count.
Sources
Leon Ramoviq
Primary Author · Editorial Reviewer · Researcher Leon Ramoviq is a digital media researcher, content creator, and primary author at Smashology Media. His work focuses on researching, verifying, and developing stories across entertainment, culture, sports, internet trends, curiosity-driven topics, and viral news. Before publishing, Leon reviews sources, cross-checks key claims, and works to ensure that articles are clear, accurately represented, and based on reliable information rather than unverified social-media speculation. With experience in digital media, graphic design, social media content, and online audience engagement, he brings both an editorial and visual perspective to the stories published on Smashology. Leon is particularly interested in how stories spread online, why certain topics capture public attention, and how complex or trending information can be presented in a simple and engaging format. Role at Smashology As a primary author and researcher, Leon is involved in: • Researching stories and identifying original or reliable sources • Writing and developing articles for Smashology • Reviewing facts, names, dates, quotations, and contextual information • Checking stories for misleading or unsupported claims • Reviewing articles before publication • Following developments and updating stories when meaningful new information becomes available • Maintaining editorial consistency across Smashology content Editorial Approach Leon believes engaging content should not come at the expense of accuracy. His approach is to combine strong storytelling with responsible sourcing, clear attribution, and additional verification when a story originates from social media or rapidly developing online discussions.
