Bodies Found Trapped in Passenger Cabins Inside KM Virgo

Divers from Basarnas and the Indonesian Navy discovered many bodies after successfully entering the compartments of the KM Virgo Transport 8, which capsized in the Masalembo waters, Java Sea, on Tuesday (22/9).

During the diving process within the ship’s hull, many victims of the KM Virgo were found inside passenger cabins. Consequently, search efforts have been redirected to focus on this area of the vessel’s body.

“Currently, the search is focused below the surface, specifically within the area of the ship’s hull. We are concentrating there because we have already found many passengers trapped inside the ship, specifically within the cabins,” stated I Putu Sudayana, Head of the Class A Search and Rescue (SAR) Office Banjarmasin and SAR Mission Coordinator, during a press conference at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Tuesday night.

Sudayana explained that the diving team had attempted to evacuate the trapped victims but failed due to technical difficulties regarding the victims’ positions. The operation to retrieve bodies from the hull of the KM Virgo will continue today.

“Earlier, some victims were attempted to be pulled out using ropes, but it was not possible. It appears some victims are wedged inside the ship or something similar is causing this. Therefore, the process will continue today. We hope the evacuation proceeds smoothly,” he said.

Sudayana added that his team hopes weather conditions and sea currents will improve on Wednesday to allow for maximum sweeping and evacuation efforts.

“This will enable the team to carry out more evacuation processes underwater, within the ship’s hull, particularly in the compartments, specifically in the passenger sleeping quarters, for both economy and executive classes,” he noted.

KM Virgo Transport 8 lost contact in the Java Sea waters on Sunday (13/9) at 02:00 WITA, while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin since Saturday (12/9).

The vessel, which was carrying 243 people, is suspected to have lost contact due to severe weather. The ship was discovered on the same day in a capsized condition in the Java Sea.

As of Tuesday (22/9), it has been recorded that 126 victims have been found, consisting of 108 survivors and 18 deceased. Meanwhile, the search for the remaining 117 victims is still ongoing.