Indonesia ferry disaster death toll rises to 64; 71 still missing

The death toll from the capsizing of a passenger ferry in Indonesia's Java Sea has risen to 64 after rescuers recovered more bodies, while 71 people remain missing and are presumed dead.

The National Search and Rescue Agency has extended the search operation for another seven days, said Yudhi Bramantyo, the agency's operation director.

The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members when it lost contact with its operator after leaving Surabaya for Borneo island.

So far, 108 people have been rescued, according to authorities.

Rescue teams recovered four bodies from inside the submerged ferry on Friday and found seven more along nearby shorelines, Bramantyo said.

The search operation will be reviewed every three days to determine whether it should continue, he said.

Under Indonesian regulations, search-and-rescue operations generally continue for seven days but can be extended when authorities believe more victims may still be located.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation between its islands.

Ferry accidents and other maritime disasters occur regularly in the country, with weak enforcement of safety regulations often cited as a contributing factor.