The KM Virgo Transport 8 has disappeared from the water\u2019s surface,\nhaving sunk in the Java Sea. Members of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL)\nhave undertaken diving operations to evacuate victims.<\/p>\n
Three Indonesian Navy ships (KRI) have been deployed to the site of\nthe KM Virgo\u2019s sinking. Navy personnel also utilised Rigid Hull\nInflatable Boats (RHIB) and lifeboats for the underwater search and\nrescue (SAR) operation.<\/p>\n
Members of the Underwater Diver and Rescue Command (Koppeba) and the\nFrogman Command (Kopaska) were deployed to conduct underwater SAR\noperations for the passengers of KM Virgo Transport 8.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, the TNI AL SAR Team (KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai-332, KRI\nCanopus-936, KRI Pulau Fani-731) deployed RHIBs and lifeboats carrying\nthe Kopaska and Koppeba teams to conduct diving at the KM Virgo\nTransport 8 site,\u201d stated Navy Communications Officer Rear Admiral\nTunggul on Friday (18\/09\/2026).<\/p>\n
The joint Navy team managed to enter the sunken vessel. They\nsuccessfully evacuated three bodies, consisting of two men and one\nwoman.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a result of the operation, the Koppeba and Kopaska teams managed\nto enter the ship\u2019s compartments by breaking window glass, and three\nbodies were successfully evacuated,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The three deceased individuals were transferred from KM Virgo\nTransport 8 to KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai-332. Subsequently, KRI I Gusti\nNgurah Rai-332 proceeded towards Banjarmasin waters to facilitate the\ntransfer of the bodies to land.<\/p>\n
129 Victims Still Missing<\/strong><\/p>\n The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) revealed that there\nhas been no increase in the number of evacuees from the KM Virgo\nTransport 8. Basarnas is now working towards raising the shipwreck.<\/p>\n To date, the number of individuals successfully evacuated stands at\n114. Out of the total, 108 people survived and six people have died in\nthe maritime accident in the Java Sea.<\/p>\n \u201cAs of today, there has been no increase in the number of victims\nfound,\u201d said Basarnas Operations Director, Rear Admiral Yudhi Bramantyo\nNur Sasongko, as reported on Thursday (17\/09\/2026) night.<\/p>\n It is noted that since the second day of the search for the 129\nmissing passengers of the Virgo, diving options were selected to inspect\nthe interior of the ship. However, this option could not be implemented\ninitially due to bad weather and high waves, which caused delays in the\ndiving operations.<\/p>\n Following the evacuation of 114 victims, Basarnas is preparing steps\nto raise the shipwreck through a salvage operation. \u201cEquipment belonging\nto the ship owner is being moved to support the salvage operation\n(righting the vessel). Further technical developments will be announced\nonce the supporting equipment arrives and operational preparations can\nproceed,\u201d said Yudhi.<\/p>\n By the fifth day of the SAR operation, as of Thursday (17\/09) at\n22:00 WITA, Basarnas confirmed that 114 victims had been found,\ncomprising 108 survivors and six deceased. Meanwhile, 129 people remain\nmissing from the total of 243 individuals listed on the KM Virgo\nTransport 8 manifest.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-bodies-successfully-evacuated-from-sunken-km-virgo-1789722137",
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