Death Toll from KM Virgo Rises to 71, with 64 Victims Still Missing
A joint diving team comprising Basarnas, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), and potential SAR personnel conducted a sweep of various sections of the KM Virgo Transport 8, specifically focusing on the bridge and cabins, on Monday (28/9).
This search was carried out to locate victims suspected to be trapped within the hull of the vessel, which is currently overturned and submerged in the Masalembo waters of the Java Sea.
According to a written statement from Basarnas, the joint diving team’s sweep was conducted gradually and with extreme caution to ensure that all possible areas of the ship that could contain victims were thoroughly inspected.
The condition of the shipwreck beneath the sea surface presents a significant challenge for divers. Furthermore, limited visibility and cramped spaces necessitate that the search process be conducted with utmost care, prioritising the safety of the divers.
During the SAR operation on Monday (28/9), the diving team successfully located five victims. The victims were subsequently evacuated from the search site for identification and further medical handling.
Of these five victims, four were evacuated to the KRI Gusti Ngurah Rai, while one was taken to the KN SAR Purworejo.
Subsequently, four victims were transported to Banjarmasin using the TNI AL Helicopter HS 1331, and one victim was transported via the Basarnas Helicopter HR 3601. All victims were taken to the Bhayangkara Hospital in Banjarmasin for identification and further treatment.
The Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii, stated that the discovery and evacuation of these five victims were the result of the hard work and synergy of all elements involved in the operation.
“Every victim successfully found is the result of the hard work, precision, and synergy of all SAR components. We will continue to conduct the search to the maximum extent by deploying all available resources,” Syafey said in his statement.
With the discovery of these five victims, the total number of found individuals has reached 179, consisting of 108 survivors and 71 deceased. Meanwhile, 64 people remain missing from a total manifest of 243 people.
The KM Virgo Transport 8 was reported to have 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 reportedly encountered bad weather and lost contact on 13 September 2026 at approximately 02:00 WITA. The ship was discovered on the same day in an overturned condition in the Masalembo waters, Java Sea.