Basarnas reports many corridors in Virgo shipwreck debris are obstructed

The Head of Operations at Basarnas Banjarmasin, Bramantya Semara, stated that many of the corridors within the wreckage of the Virgo Transport 8, which sank in the Java Sea, are heavily obstructed.

“Diver access to the ship’s hull is very limited due to these blockages,” he said at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Banjarmasin on Wednesday (30/9) night.

Bramantya explained that because the ship is in an overturned position, all items, including those belonging to passengers, are now located against the ceiling of the vessel.

This condition poses significant difficulties for the diving team, as it is estimated that some of the victims’ bodies may also be trapped inside.

Consequently, the diving team supporting the underwater search is proceeding with extreme caution, prioritising safety protocols.

As the ship’s condition remains unstable due to strong currents and waves, navigating the area around the wreckage remains hazardous.

“However, in principle, we are continuing to optimise all possible efforts to find the remaining victims,” he emphasised.

This includes searching the waters of Central Kalimantan, as many victims have been discovered in that region.

As of Wednesday (30/9), 22 bodies from the Virgo shipwreck have been found in Central Kalimantan waters, particularly in the Seruyan and Sukamara Regencies.

Eighteen of these bodies have been evacuated and are currently at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Banjarmasin for identification.

Meanwhile, the remaining four victims are in transit via land to Banjarmasin.

Basarnas has evacuated 186 victims from the Virgo ship, out of a total of 243 passengers and crew. To date, 108 people have been found safe, 78 have died, while 57 victims remain missing as the SAR operation enters its 18th day.