FERRY SINKS OFF JAVA, ONE KILLED AND AROUND 100 RESCUED

JAKARTA, SEPTEMBER 13 /SRNA/ – One person was killed and 103 others rescued after a ferry sank in bad weather while travelling between the Indonesian islands of Java and Borneo, rescue service announced.

The Virgo Transport Eight, carrying 243 passengers and crew members, lost contact with its operator early this morning after departing from Surabaya in East Java, AFP reported.

Rescuers struggled with waves of up to 2.5 meters in a dangerous operation to reach the stricken ferry, officials said.

Maritime accidents are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands that relies heavily on sea transport for everyday travel and tourism.

Poor compliance with safety standards and unpredictable weather are among the main causes of such disasters.