Latest Update on Search and Identification Process for KM Virgo Victims
The joint SAR team is continuing its search for the victims of KM Virgo Transport 8, which capsized and sank in the Masalembo waters, Java Sea, South Kalimantan. The KM Virgo Transport 8 was reported to have lost contact in the Java Sea waters on Sunday (13/9) at approximately 02:00 WITA. The vessel lost contact while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin since Saturday (12/9) of last week.
The ship, which carried 243 passengers according to the manifest, reportedly encountered bad weather and lost contact on 13 September 2026 at around 02:00 WITA. The vessel was discovered on the same day in a capsized condition in the Masalembo waters, Java Sea.
On Monday (28/9), the joint diving team successfully discovered five more victims. The victims were subsequently evacuated from the search site for further identification and handling. Of these five victims, four were evacuated to the KRI Gusti Ngurah Rai, while one was taken to the KN SAR Purworejo.
Four victims were further evacuated to Banjarmasin using an Indonesian Navy HS 1331 helicopter, and one victim was transported via a Basarnas HR 3601 helicopter to Bhayangkara Hospital for the identification process. “Every victim successfully found is the result of the hard work, precision, and synergy of all SAR elements. We will continue to conduct the search to the maximum extent by deploying all available resources,” stated the Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii, in his statement.
As of last Monday, it is recorded that 179 victims have been found, consisting of 108 survivors and 71 fatalities. Meanwhile, 64 people remain missing out of the total manifest of 243 people.
During yesterday’s SAR operation, the joint diving team from Basarnas, the Indonesian Navy, and potential SAR contributors searched several parts of the KM Virgo, specifically the bridge and cabins. The search was conducted to find victims suspected to be trapped inside the hull of the capsized and sunken vessel in the Masalembo waters.
According to a written statement from Basarnas, the search by the joint diving team was carried out in stages to ensure that all parts of the ship that could potentially house victims were thoroughly inspected. The condition of the shipwreck beneath the sea surface presents a significant challenge for divers. Furthermore, limited visibility and narrow spaces mean the search process must be conducted with extreme caution, prioritising the safety of the divers.
16 Deceased Identified
Additionally, as of last Monday, the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team successfully identified another 16 deceased victims of the KM Virgo. This brings the total number of identified victims to 41. Of these 4ised 41 identified victims, 25 had previously been identified and handed over to their families.
“The total number identified up to Monday, 28 September, is 41 people. There are 29 unidentified individuals out of the total 70 deceased received at Bhayangkara Hospital Banjarmasin as of today,” said the Head of Medical Division of the South Kalimantan Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Dr Much Sofwan, to reporters on Monday.
Sofwan stated that his team will continue their efforts to identify the remaining victims.