Banjarmasin, S. Kalimantan (ANTARA) – Deep-sea divers penetrating the sunken wreck of the Virgo Transport 8 have discovered numerous bodies trapped inside passenger cabins, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) announced Tuesday (September 22).
Entering the 10th day of search operations in the Java Sea, joint dive teams resorted to breaking cabin window panes to gain access to the vessel’s submerged interior, where many victims remain stranded.
“Our focus is locked on the hull, specifically the passenger quarters, after teams spotted numerous victims trapped inside,” Head of the Banjarmasin SAR Office and SAR Mission Coordinator I Putu Sudayana said in a press conference at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
“Earlier attempts to pull several victims out using ropes were unsuccessful. Emergency operations will resume tomorrow in hopes of a smoother evacuation,” he added.
The specialized dive unit—comprising the Basarnas Special Group (BSG), the Indonesian Navy’s Kopaska frogmen unit and Second Fleet Command (Pangkoarmada II) as well as a private marine services company PT Jasalindo—recovered three bodies from the wreck early Tuesday morning.
However, subsequent extraction efforts for other visible victims were temporarily suspended in the afternoon due to heavy underwater turbidity and strong sea currents.
Rescue operations are scheduled to resume on Wednesday morning, prioritizing the search in both economy and executive class passenger compartments.
SAR officers are also assessing the possibility of searching the ship’s vehicle deck, provided underwater conditions remain safe for personnel.
“Vehicles inside the ship are stacked on top of one another because the vessel is not in a normal position. We will search those areas only if conditions permit and it is safe for the divers. Officer safety remains our top priority,” Sudayana emphasized.
As of 10:00 p.m. Central Indonesian Time on Tuesday, official figures confirm that out of 243 people listed on the ship’s manifest, 126 individuals have been accounted for—108 survivors and 18 deceased.
Rescuers continue to search for 117 missing passengers.
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Translator: Tumpal Andani Aritonang, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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