Number of Evacuated Passengers from Missing Virgo Ship in Java Sea Increases to 143
The Ministry of Transportation has announced that hundreds of passengers from the Virgo Transport 8, travelling on the Surabaya-Banjarmasin route and which lost contact in the Java Sea, have been evacuated. Most passengers were rescued in safe condition.
The number of evacuated passengers has been updated based on new data from the Ministry of Transportation. According to the latest press release, 107 individuals have been evacuated, including six fatalities.
“According to preliminary data, 107 passengers have been successfully evacuated in a safe condition, while 6 people have died. The search and further data collection processes are ongoing,” said the Head of the Banjarmasin Class I KSOP Office, Heri Purwanto, in a corrected written statement on Sunday (13/09/2026).
The evacuation efforts were carried out by Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) with assistance from vessels near the incident site, including KM Hai Da, MT Mauhaw, and TB TCP. Heri noted that the Banjarmasin Type A Class II Navigation District deployed the State Navigation Vessel KN Kunyit to assist in the evacuation process.
Heri stated that the suspected cause of the accident is still under investigation. Authorities will investigate natural factors, technical issues, and human error.
“KSOP Utama Tanjung Perak and KSOP Class I Banjarmasin are committed to continuously monitoring the progress of this incident handling and will provide official updates to the public as field progress continues,” he explained.
Currently, the Banjarmasin Class I KSOP Office has established a command post at the Bandarmasih Passenger Terminal, Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin. Families of the passengers are invited to visit the post.
“This post aims to manage and build intensive coordination with relevant parties such as Basarnas, BUP PT Pelindo, the Banjarmasin Navigation District Office (VTS), PT Pelindo III Banjarmasin Pilotage, shipping agencies, and families,” he said.
Heri explained that the vessel is suspected to have tilted and lost contact in the Masalembo waters (Java Sea) on 13 September 2026, at approximately 02:00 local time. According to manifest data, the ship was carrying a total of 243 people, consisting of 30 crew members, 27 ship partners, 59 adult passengers, 1 child, and 126 drivers and assistants, along with 89 units of vehicle cargo. This total passenger count has also been updated in the Ministry of Transportation’s latest press release.
“We have responded swiftly to the incident report involving KMP Virgo Transport 8 in the Masalembo waters. Our primary focus and priority is the safety of all parties on board through the deployment of a coordinated rescue operation,” he stated.
Heri noted that the Indonesian-flagged Ro-Ro passenger ship, KMP Virgo Transport 8, measuring 8,540 GT, is commanded by Captain Arief Yunianto. Operated by PT Virgo Karya Shipping, the vessel departed from Surabaya Port on 12 September 2026 at 06:52 local time, bound for Banjarmasin Port.
Previously, Basarnas Banjarmasin reported that 103 people had been evacuated as of 12:00 WITA, including 6 fatalities.