The Virgo Transport 8 vanished crossing the Java Sea with 240 people aboard en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, triggering an urgent search.

Initial information indicated the vessel's last known position was in the Java Sea, about 148 kilometres (92 miles) from a pier in Banjarmasin.

Initial information indicated the vessel's last known position was in the Java Sea, about 148 kilometres (92 miles) from a pier in Banjarmasin.

Indonesian rescuers have launched a search operation after a passenger ship carrying at least 240 people lost contact in the Java Sea while traveling from East Java to South Kalimantan on Borneo island.