Basarnas deploys two helicopters to search for 68 missing victims of KM Virgo

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Basarnas has placed two helicopters, a primary sea vessel, and a joint team of divers on standby for the 16th day of the SAR operation on Monday, focusing on the search for 68 victims of the KM Virgo Transport 8 who remain missing in the Java Sea waters.

The Head of Basarnas, Mohammad Syafii, emphasised that all SAR elements are optimising sea and air resources to complete the search for the victims of the sunken vessel.

“We continue to deploy all resources and coordinate with all SAR elements to search for the victims who are still declared missing,” he stated in a briefing in Jakarta on Monday.

According to data from the Joint SAR Main Post in Banjarmasin, the KN SAR Kamajaya has been moving towards the search location since 08:33 WITA today.

Syafii added that Basarnas is also operating Helicopter HR-3604 to support the aerial evacuation of two victims found on the coast of Sukamara Regency, to be flown to Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan.

As of 10:00 WITA, out of a total of 243 passengers and crew according to the ship’s manifest, 175 people have been found, including 108 survivors and 67 deceased.

“Every finding will be immediately evacuated and followed up in accordance with procedure,” said Syafii.