Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) – Yuliani Intan Sari expressed relief on Tuesday after disaster victim identification officers formally identified her 41-year-old husband, Sugianto, who died in the sinking of the Virgo Transport 8 vessel.
“I feel relieved and have accepted God’s decree,” Sari said at Bhayangkara Hospital in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
Sugianto was among 16 victims positively identified Monday night by disaster victim identification (DVI) specialists, according to South Kalimantan Police Medical Director Senior Commissioner Much Sofwan.
Forensic teams identified the body using secondary medical characteristics and personal effects matched with ante-mortem data provided by family members, he said.
“Post-mortem record 036 matches ante-mortem record 106, identified as Sugianto, a 41-year-old male from Banjarmasin,” Sofwan said.
Sari expressed gratitude to rescue teams and forensic experts involved in the evacuation and identification efforts.
She said she prayed for a miracle after learning the vessel had sunk in the Java Sea with her husband aboard.
“I hoped for a miracle that my husband survived,” Sari said.
Sugianto worked as a logistics truck driver for transport company Lintas Jawa Group after recently leaving a similar driving job, his wife said.
Sari now faces raising their seven-year-old child as a single parent. The child remains unaware of his father’s death.
Indonesia’s search-and-rescue agency, Basarnas, continues searching for 64 missing passengers and crew with joint rescue teams.
Authorities have recovered 179 of the 243 passengers and crew aboard, including 108 survivors and 71 deceased victims.
Forensic teams from the South Kalimantan Police and National Police medical units continue identifying victims whose remains are difficult to recognize.
Related news: Basarnas continues searching for 64 missing Virgo Transport 8 Victims
Related news: Indonesia to launch probe into deadly Virgo Transport 8 sinking
Translator: Firman, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2026