Death toll from capsized ship in Indonesia rises to 42

JAKARTA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a passenger ship that capsized and sank in Indonesia's Java Sea rose to 42 on Thursday, with 93 people still missing, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency.

All the bodies recovered so far have been taken to Banjarmasin for identification, the agency said.

According to the agency, the ship's salvage operation could begin no earlier than three months from now after its fuel tanks are drained to prevent marine pollution.

The Virgo Transport 8, with 243 people onboard, departed Surabaya in East Java on Sept. 12 for Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. It encountered bad weather during the voyage and lost contact at around 2 a.m. local time on Sept. 13.

Rescuers have since found bodies inside the ship and along the coast of Central Kalimantan province.

Divers focused their search on the ship's cabins, but poor underwater visibility and strong currents have hampered the operation, the agency said.

Indonesia, an archipelagic country with around 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries and other forms of sea transportation to connect its islands and facilitate travel. Maritime accidents occur from time to time due to factors including weather conditions, sea conditions and vessel safety.