Malaysia Extends Condolences Over Virgo Transport 8 Ferry Tragedy

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Malaysia has conveyed its sympathy to Indonesia following the sinking of passenger ferry KMP Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea, which left hundreds of passengers missing.

Delivering remarks at Malaysia Day celebrations in Jakarta on Tuesday evening, Chargé d’Affaires Ad Interim at the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta, Farzamie Zarkawi, expressed solidarity with the Indonesian people.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the government and people of Indonesia, especially to the families affected by the passenger vessel that sank in the Java Sea on September 13, 2026,” Farzamie said, as quoted by Antara.

He added hopes that ongoing search and rescue operations would proceed smoothly. “We pray that all efforts to locate and save the victims will be eased by Allah SWT,” he noted.

The ill-fated Virgo Transport 8 lost contact in Masalembo waters early Sunday morning before being confirmed sunk. The vessel, carrying 243 passengers and crew, was en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.

By Tuesday night, September 15, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Chief Mohammad Syafii reported that 114 victims had been found -- 108 survivors and six fatalities -- leaving 129 people still unaccounted for. All evacuees have since been transported to Banjarmasin.

Meanwhile, South Kalimantan Police’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team confirmed the identities of all six deceased victims.

Five were identified on Tuesday as Nurul Rian Hidayat (Pamekasan), Deny Ridzal Saputra (Kediri), Imam Soeparno (Surabaya), Erick Maisul Latif (Garut), and Risyan Kurnia Putra (Garut). The first victim, Reyner Fausta Yosilianto from Malang, was identified a day earlier.

Malaysia’s message of condolence underscores regional solidarity as Indonesia continues intensive search operations to locate the remaining passengers. ***