Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government will launch a thorough investigation into the deadly sinking of the Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea once search and rescue operations conclude, Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said on Wednesday.
“For me, the most important thing is evacuation first. Evacuation, then investigation … as the causes of every accident differ,” Dudy said in Jakarta.
He explained that the investigation will examine key operational aspects, including cargo securing procedures, the vessel’s seaworthiness, crew readiness, and the accuracy of the official passenger manifest.
Dudy noted that the findings will serve as a basis for evaluating national maritime safety standards and addressing implementation gaps in the field.
“We look at the lessons learned. They say the manifest information is correct—but is it really? That has to be verified. And there is much more, including the ship’s seaworthiness and the status of the crew,” the minister added.
The investigation follows directions from President Prabowo Subianto, who promised a comprehensive evaluation of maritime safety and mitigation protocols following the September 13 disaster.
“We will continue to conduct an investigation—to determine the cause of the incident—so that we can improve mitigation and take the best possible measures in the future,” President Prabowo said on September 16, while expressing deep condolences to the affected families.
As of Wednesday noon, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported that 127 of the 243 people listed on the manifest had been accounted for, including 108 survivors and 19 fatalities. Search and rescue teams continue to look for 116 missing people.
Meanwhile, local authorities in Central Kalimantan are working to identify a deceased person recovered by fishermen on Tuesday (September 22) to determine whether the victim was connected to the ferry disaster.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Yashinta Difa
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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