Indonesia Extends Java Sea Ferry Search as Death Toll Reaches 64

Indonesia has extended its search operation by seven more days for 71 people still unaccounted for after a ferry capsized in the Java Sea two weeks ago, officials said, as the confirmed death toll rose to 64.

The vessel, the Virgo Transport 8, was carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members when it lost contact with its operator after leaving Surabaya for Borneo island. So far, 108 people have been rescued.

According to the National Search and Rescue Agency's operation director, Yudhi Bramantyo, rescuers have continued to recover bodies from the wreck. Four were found inside the submerged vessel on Friday, while seven others were discovered along nearby shorelines, taking the death toll to 64.

Bramantyo said late on Saturday that the search would continue for another week and would be evaluated every three days to decide whether operations should go on. Under Indonesian regulations, search-and-rescue missions typically run for seven days but can be extended if authorities believe more victims may still be found.

Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where ferries are a common means of travel. Such disasters occur regularly, with weak safety enforcement often cited as a factor.