The death toll from an Indonesian ferry that capsized earlier this month has risen to 66, as rescue teams continued searching Monday for 69 people still missing more than two weeks after the disaster.
The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members, as well as an unknown number of vehicles when it capsized in bad weather early on Sept. 13.
The ferry was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan when it overturned in the Java Sea.
On the 16th day of search operations, divers continued entering the wreck despite hazardous conditions, including leaking fuel and unstable structures.
Hardiansyah Putra, a senior official with Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, said divers were navigating through debris in an effort to reach passenger cabins where some of those still missing could be trapped.
For safety reasons, diving operations were being limited to a maximum depth of 27 meters, or about 89 feet.
Rescue teams were also expected to use a helicopter Monday to airlift some of the bodies recovered from the area where the vessel sank, according to senior search and rescue official I Putu Sudayana.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation between islands because sea travel is often cheaper and more accessible than air travel.
However, the country has experienced numerous maritime accidents over the years, with severe weather and safety issues among the recurring concerns.
Search and recovery operations are continuing as authorities work to locate the remaining missing passengers.
