Contact has been lost with the vessel "Virgo Transport 8" sailing in the Java Sea during a storm in Indonesia. There were 243 people on board.

Operativ Media reports, citing the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency.

Operations coordinator Putu Sudayana said the vessel was last located approximately 80 nautical miles from the "SAR Basirih" pier in Banjarmasin.

Contact with the crew was lost at around 2:00 a.m. local time after weather conditions deteriorated sharply.

Naval forces, water police, port, and navigation services have been involved in the search operations.