Java Sea Ferry Capsizes

What happened

The facts the coverage agrees on, drawn from reporting across the political spectrum. Where the sides dispute something, it's attributed.

The Indonesian ferry Virgo Transport 8 overturned in bad weather Sunday in the Java Sea while traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. It carried 243 people, including 30 crew. At least six people were dead, more than 100 rescued, and about 130 missing as searches continued. Contact was lost around 2 a.m., about 150 kilometers south of Banjarmasin, after the captain reported 10-foot waves and listing. Indonesia sent ships, helicopters and hundreds of personnel. Officials said it had not immediately sunk.

Both sides

How left-leaning and right-leaning outlets told this story, in their own coverage. Outlet names link to the article we drew from.

From the left

Left-leaning coverage centered the scale of the disaster and the rescue challenge. The Guardian reported at least six dead, 130 missing, and 107 rescued from the Virgo Transport 8. It said the ferry carried 243 people, including 30 crew, and cited the transport minister saying the ship capsized but had not sunk. The Guardian also said rescuers faced waves up to 2.5 metres. HuffPost linked the case to uneven ferry safety enforcement in Indonesia.

From the right

Right-leaning coverage stressed rough seas, the route, and shifting early rescue totals. Fox News said the Virgo Transport 8 was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin. The New York Post reported about 140 missing after a ferry with more than 240 people overturned, and said the captain had reported 10-foot waves. The Washington Times reported at least 107 rescued and six bodies recovered, while Breitbart cited 115 rescued and 125 missing.

Coverage•13 articles — 2 left, 6 center, 5 right