The death toll from the Indonesia ferry disaster rose to 20 on Wednesday as rescue teams expanded their underwater search.
The Virgo Transport 8 ferry capsized in the Java Sea on September 13 during bad weather.
The vessel was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.
It was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members. The ferry was also transporting an unknown number of vehicles.
Indonesia Ferry Disaster Search Expands
Rescue teams recovered 10 bodies over three days, according to officials.
Eight bodies were found inside the vessel. Authorities also recovered two bodies that had washed ashore in Central Kalimantan.
As of Wednesday’s reported update, 20 people had died, while 115 remained missing. Another 108 people survived the disaster.
Rescuers recovered five bodies on Monday, four on Tuesday and another on Wednesday morning.
Divers Search Ferry Cabins
The latest underwater operation is focusing on the ferry’s cabins.
Divers managed to break cabin windows on Tuesday. However, they could not enter because of extremely poor visibility and strong currents.
Rescuers have already seen bodies inside some cabins.
Therefore, teams are concentrating on the ship’s hull before moving to other sections.
I Putu Sudayana, head of the Banjarmasin rescue agency, said the conditions remain dangerous for divers.
Vehicles Create Additional Risks
After searching the cabins, rescuers may turn their attention to vehicles inside the ferry.
However, that operation could prove difficult.
Many vehicles appear to have shifted and piled on top of one another inside the capsized vessel.
This could create additional hazards for divers working in confined spaces.
Officials said teams will only continue if conditions allow them to operate safely.
Rescue Operation Extended
Search and rescue operations have been extended into the following week.
At the same time, authorities are working to right the capsized ferry.
The vessel remained overturned on Wednesday as recovery teams continued their efforts.
The Indonesia ferry disaster has created a complex underwater recovery operation. Strong currents, limited visibility and the position of the ship continue to make the search difficult.
Authorities are expected to keep searching for the missing passengers as efforts shift toward areas inside the vessel.
