Prabowo Expresses Condolences for KMP Virgo Transport 8 Victims
President Prabowo Subianto has expressed his condolences regarding the accident of the KMP Virgo Transport 8 passenger ship, which was sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin through the Java Sea waters.
Prabowo conveyed his sympathies regarding the KMP Virgo Transport 8 accident before officially inaugurating the extension of the Jakarta Kelapa Gading-Manggarai LRT route on Wednesday (16/09/2026).
“We always remember our brothers and sisters who have experienced tragedies. The most recent being the Virgo ship in Banjarmasin,” Prabowo said in South Jakarta. He expressed his hope that the bereaved families are granted strength and fortitude in facing this disaster.
Prabowo also asserted that the government will continue to conduct a full investigation to uncover the cause of the accident. “We will continue to investigate the cause and the occurrence of this event so that in the future we can better mitigate and take the best possible steps,” said Prabowo. He noted that the investigation is crucial not only to determine the cause but also to serve as material for evaluation to strengthen maritime safety and mitigation measures.
Academic from Unika Soegijapranata and MTI Advisory Board member Djoko Setijowarno emphasised that the inspection of ship seaworthiness must cover everything from technical aspects to safety. Meanwhile, ITS hydrodynamics expert Prof. I Ketut Aria Pria Utama highlighted the design of the Japanese-imported ship and seakeeping aspects regarding the incident of KM Virgo Transport 8 in Masalembu.
Basarnas reported that KM Virgo Transport 8 was hit by waves exceeding three metres before the accident in the Java Sea. To date, 115 victims have been found, while 128 remain missing. Approximately 69 of the 107 passengers who survived the accident have arrived at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, to undergo medical examinations.
In Garut, the local police have collected Ante Mortem data and DNA samples from 13 families of the victims in Karangpawitan to accelerate the identification process. The Garut Social Affairs Office has returned the bodies of two victims, Erick Maisul Latif and Risyan Kurnia Putra, to Situsaeur Village after they were identified by the DVI team.
The Malaysian government, through its Embassy in Jakarta, expressed deep sympathy for the sinking of KMP Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea, which was carrying 243 passengers. In response to the tragedy, Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi has instructed all ranks of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation to strengthen supervision. The Indonesian Transport Community (MTI) has also highlighted the recurring nature of such maritime accidents.