Indonesia Ferry Disaster Death Toll Rises to 66 as 69 People Remain Missing

(Rescue members and navy personnel dive to recover victims. Photo Credit: Tribune Online)

The death toll from an Indonesian ferry that capsized earlier this month has risen to 66, and rescuers are still searching for 69 missing passengers on the 16th day of the operation.

The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members and an unknown number of vehicles, when it capsized in bad weather early on September 13.

It was sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it overturned in the Java Sea, according to Indonesia's search and rescue agency.

Figures released on Monday show 108 people survived, 69 are missing and 66 bodies have been recovered.

Conditions are tough and risky for rescuers.

Senior agency official Hardiansyah Putra said divers moved through unstable debris on Monday as they tried to search the ferry's cabins, and they can only go down to a maximum depth of 27 metres.

The 4,277-tonne vessel tilts from side to side, has sharp objects scattered inside, and is leaking fuel with dense gas around it.

Another official, I Putu Sudayana, said divers could not get into the compartments.

He said the ship's operator would need to right the vessel and bring it to the surface so rescuers can reach them better.

A helicopter was also expected to airlift some of the recovered bodies on Monday.

The long search has added to the pain of relatives and friends waiting for news.

Rescuers are focusing on areas of the ferry where they believe victims could still be trapped, and authorities have not said when the operation will end.

Indonesia depends heavily on ferries to link its roughly 17,000 islands, which makes sea travel an affordable option for many people.

The country has, however, seen many ferry and maritime accidents over the years, showing the risks that come with this reliance.