Banjarmasin: Indonesian rescuers have recovered three more bodies from the ferry Virgo Transport 8, which capsized and later sank in the Java Sea, raising the confirmed death toll to nine as the search continues for 126 people still unaccounted for.
The three bodies, two men and one woman, were recovered by divers who managed to enter the vessel on Friday, the fifth day of the search operation. A total of 108 people have been rescued alive.
The latest figures mean that 243 people were aboard the ferry when it encountered severe weather during its journey from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.
The recovery of the three bodies has changed the casualty figures from the earlier count of six dead and 129 people unaccounted for. The number of survivors remains 108, while the number of people still unaccounted for has fallen to 126.
Authorities have now begun a salvage operation aimed at making access to the vessel easier. The plan is to move the ferry towards a shallower area and then turn it upright so rescue teams can search the inside of the ship more effectively.
The operation is being led by the vessel's owner, with support from Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency, the navy and maritime police.
Banjarmasin Navy Commander Galih Nurna Putra said the salvage operation was under way and that the team was preparing to move the ferry towards the planned location. Once the vessel is turned upright, rescue teams plan to conduct a more extensive search and evacuation operation inside the ship.
The operation has been made difficult by strong winds, large waves and powerful underwater currents. Divers have also had to deal with water pressure and the structure of the ferry, which makes reaching some parts of the vessel difficult.
The ferry remained partially above water for several days after the accident but later sank completely to the seabed. Divers approached the wreck on Thursday, took video footage and found evidence including wallets and identity cards. They also found hundreds of water damaged parcels and plastic wrapped packages.
Indonesian authorities have deployed ships and aircraft to continue searching the surrounding waters. On Friday, eight ships and two helicopters were involved in searches by air and sea, while underwater teams continued working around the wreck.
The ferry was travelling on what was expected to be a 20 hour journey between Surabaya and Banjarmasin when it encountered bad weather early on September 13.
According to the Indonesian government, the vessel encountered strong waves and winds at about 1 a.m. It then began listing heavily and subsequently lost contact.
The national search and rescue operation was launched after the vessel lost contact. Rescuers and nearby vessels later brought 108 people to safety and recovered six bodies during the initial response.
The ferry was carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members, as well as 89 vehicles.
President Prabowo Subianto has ordered a thorough and objective investigation into the accident and instructed relevant agencies to coordinate the response. Authorities have also been directed to ensure that the rights of victims' families are addressed.
The exact cause of the accident has not yet been established. Bad weather and rough sea conditions were reported before the ferry capsized, but authorities have not concluded that weather alone caused the disaster.
Two representatives of victims' families were allowed to observe the operation on Friday as authorities continued the search in difficult conditions.
With 126 people still unaccounted for, rescuers are concentrating on gaining access to the ferry while continuing searches in the surrounding waters.