Arab Leaders Extend Condolences to Indonesia After KMP Virgo Transport 8 Sinking

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has received condolences from leaders across the Arab world following the sinking of KMP Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea, a tragedy that left dozens dead, injured hundreds and left many others missing.

Among those expressing sympathy were Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Qatar's Emir Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who sent messages of condolence to President Prabowo Subianto, the Indonesian government and the victims' families, Antara reported.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), King Salman conveyed his deepest condolences and sympathy to President Prabowo, the families of those who lost their lives, and the Indonesian people.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman also extended his condolences to President Prabowo following the maritime disaster.

Qatar's Emir, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, also sent a message of condolence to President Prabowo on Friday, as reported by the Qatar News Agency (QNA).

In his message, Sheik Tamim expressed solidarity with the victims of the KMP Virgo Transport 8 sinking and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

QNA also reported that Qatar's Deputy Emir, Sheik Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani, and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheik Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani sent similar messages of sympathy to President Prabowo and the Indonesian people.

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik likewise conveyed his condolences to President Prabowo over the sinking in the Java Sea.

According to the Oman News Agency, the Sultan expressed his deep sympathy to President Prabowo, the Indonesian people, and the victims' families, while wishing those injured a speedy recovery.

KMP Virgo Transport 8 reportedly lost contact in the Masalembu waters of the Java Sea at around 2 a.m. local time on Sept. 13 before authorities later confirmed that it had sunk.

The vessel, carrying 243 passengers and crew members, sank while sailing from Surabaya, East Java, to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, after departing on Sept. 12.

According to Basarnas data as of 7 p.m. Central Indonesia Time on Sept. 26, 172 of the 243 people on board had been found, comprising 108 survivors and 64 fatalities, while 71 remained missing.

The Transportation Ministry said the joint search and rescue operation for KMP Virgo Transport 8 victims would continue, emphasizing inter-agency coordination, effective search and evacuation efforts, and the safety of all personnel involved. ***