An Indonesian passenger ship ​carrying 243 people was ‌reported missing ⁠after losing contact in the Java Sea early on Sunday ‌during bad ‌weather, the country's search and ‌rescue agency said in a ‌statement.

At least one person has been confirmed dead and more than 100 people have been rescued, local officials said.

The Virgo Transport 8 ship set sail on Saturday from the East ⁠Java ‌city of Surabaya to the South Kalimantan city of Banjarmasin before losing contact, ‌according to the statement.

"At the time of ​this statement, the ship cannot be contacted and its whereabouts are unknown," the agency said.

Rescuers have launched a ⁠search, deploying a team ⁠toward its last ⁠known position, it ​added.