Virgo Transport 8 owner\u2019s spokesman Simson Fransiscus Riki said here\nFriday that the company had taken concrete steps from the first day to\naddress victims\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not just a statement. We have taken action from the beginning\nuntil now. We have done what was necessary since the first day,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Regarding reports that survivors were asked to leave hotels in\nBanjarmasin, Simson said the company had instead helped them return home\nafter they felt uncomfortable and requested to reunite with their\nfamilies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe owner initially facilitated their return by sea, but the victims\nsaid they were traumatized by sea travel and requested additional\nassistance to return home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Simson clarified reports that victims would receive 500,000 rupiah\n(US$28) in financial assistance, saying the amount had not been\nfinalized as the company was still assessing its needs and capacity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have also prepared additional assistance, and we will announce\nthe amount soon because we are still calculating everything,\u201d Simson\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said the initial financial assistance given to victims for their\nreturn from Banjarmasin came from the South Kalimantan governor, while\nthe owner was preparing additional assistance.<\/p>\n
Simson said victims who had returned home were still being recorded\nand asked to provide their bank account numbers so the company could\nfulfill their entitlements.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose who have returned have been recorded and asked to provide\ntheir bank account numbers so we can fulfill their rights,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Families of victims still in Banjarmasin continue to receive food and\naccommodation assistance, while the owner is coordinating with Pelindo\nover facilities for families at Trisakti Port.<\/p>\n
Simson also said a circulating letter offering financial assistance\nwith a specific amount and conditions, bearing a 10,000-rupiah stamp,\nwas fake.<\/p>\n
The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people when it departed\nSurabaya, East Java, for Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on September 12,\n2026.<\/p>\n
The ferry encountered bad weather and lost contact at about 2 a.m.\nlocal time on September 13 before being found overturned in the\nMasalembo waters of the Java Sea.<\/p>\n
By 10 p.m. local time on Thursday, the fifth day of the search,\nIndonesia\u2019s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said 114 people\nhad been found, including 108 survivors and six dead, while 129 remained\nmissing.<\/p>\n
Related news: Ministry to probe alleged import ineligibility of Virgo\n8 ferry<\/p>\n
Related news: Prabowo conveys condolences over Virgo ship\naccident<\/p>\n
Related news: Basarnas stresses international standards searching\nVirgo ship<\/p>\n
Translator: Tumpal AA, Rahmad Nasution<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/virgo-transport-8-owner-pledges-support-for-ship-accident-victims-1789739482", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }