Banjarmasin, S. Kalimantan (ANTARA) – The joint search and rescue (SAR) team recovered 11 additional bodies on Saturday during the 14th day of operations following the sinking of the passenger ship Virgo Transport 8, officials stated.
The latest findings bring the total number of victims located to 172 out of 243 people listed on the ship’s manifest.
Head of National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Mohammad Syafii stated that as of 20:00 Central Indonesian Time (WITA) Saturday, official records show 108 survivors and 64 deceased, while 71 people remain missing.
“We are still carrying out SAR operations optimally. Any findings will be immediately evacuated and handled according to procedures. Our main focus is to find victims who are still missing and provide certainty to the families,” Syafii said in Banjarmasin.
He said that four of the victims were found by a joint diving team around the ship’s hull at the sinking site in the Java Sea.
The bodies were evacuated by the vessel SAR Pacitan at 16:10 WITA.
The remains were subsequently transferred to the warship KRI Gusti Ngurah Rai before being airlifted by a Panther 1311 military helicopter to Sjamsudin Noor Air Base in Banjarbaru at 18:18 WITA.
Meanwhile, the Palangka Raya SAR Office reported that seven other bodies were found in Central Kalimantan waters—including four in Sukamara Regency, two in Seruyan Regency, and one in Branch River, Pangkalan Bun.
All recovered bodies are currently undergoing formal identification procedures prior to being handed over to their respective families.
Basarnas confirmed that joint rescue teams—deploying personnel, ships, divers, and aircraft—will continue to strengthen coordination and optimize search efforts at the primary site and surrounding potential areas to locate the remaining missing passengers.
Translator: Tumpal Andani Aritonang, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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