A passenger ship capsized off the coast of East Java, killing one person and missing one person.

On December 8, 2024, a passenger ship capsized off the coast of East Java, killing one person and missing one person. The boat sank in the rough waters near the Situbondo area, and 49 other people were rescued.

The wooden boat, “Kapal Layar Motor Fajar Lorena,” sank at around 1:10 pm local time while heading to Situbondo from a seaport in Sumenep District.

Mohamed Hariyadi, head of the East Java Search and Rescue Office, said the ship was carrying 51 people at the time of the accident.

The rescue operation was immediately launched, and the joint rescue team of about 50 people made every effort to rescue the passengers. So far, 49 people have been rescued safely, of which one has been confirmed dead and one is still missing.

Hariyadi said that the search for the missing is still ongoing, and efforts are being made to salvage the bodies of the deceased.

The sinking is believed to have been caused by adverse weather conditions, including strong waves and heavy rain, which threaten sea travel in the area.

Hariyadi explained that weather played a major role in the accident: “The waves were very large, and the weather conditions were very bad.”

Before the tragedy, the Indonesian Meteorological, Climate, and Geophysical Agency warned about severe weather conditions, predicting that strong waves and heavy rain could pose risks to boats in the area.

Rescue teams continue to locate the missing, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation while working to prevent more accidents in the area.

Authorities are asking travelers to exercise caution as the weather remains unpredictable.