<p>Indonesian search and rescue teams launched an operation on Sunday after a passenger ship carrying 240 people went silent in the Java Sea while en route from East Java to South Kalimantan on Borneo island.</p>
<p>The Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin, capital of South Kalimantan province, confirmed it received a report that the Virgo Transport 8 had experienced a communication failure during its voyage from Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city, located in East Java province.</p>
<p>According to officials, the vessel's last known position was in the Java Sea, roughly 148 kilometres from a pier in Banjarmasin. Rescuers are now conducting a search at and around that location.</p>
<p>No further details about the passengers or the cause of the communication failure have been confirmed by authorities.</p>
