Basarnas Continues Search for 129 Missing Passengers from KMP Virgo Transport 8

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) continues the search for 129 passengers of KMP Virgo Transport 8 who remain missing after the vessel encountered an emergency while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.

According to the latest data, 108 victims have been evacuated alive, while six were found deceased. Search and rescue teams are still working to locate and evacuate the remaining missing passengers.

Basarnas Deputy for Operations and Preparedness, Edy Prakoso, expressed concern over the incident. He said the emergency report was received at 04:10 a.m. local time from the General Manager of Virgo.

“We received the report at 04:10 a.m. from the GM of Virgo, and the local SAR office immediately relayed it to the Basarnas Common Center. We then ordered the deployment of a maritime asset belonging to the Banjarmasin SAR Office--the KN Laksmana--to begin search operations,” Edy said in a statement posted on Basarnas’ official Instagram account on September 13, 2026.

Communication between SAR personnel and the ship’s captain occurred when the initial emergency report was received. However, the connection was lost when the operator requested additional information about the situation.

The Banjarmasin SAR Office immediately forwarded the information it received to the Basarnas Common Center to accelerate the search operation. The Banjarmasin SAR Office then deployed KN Laksmana to carry out search and rescue efforts.

Search operations have faced obstacles due to weather conditions and high waves at the scene. These conditions also affected the deployment of SAR assets. KN Permadi, dispatched from Surabaya, was forced to turn back due to severe weather and high waves.

“Technical challenges in the field, such as weather and waves, are a major obstacle. KN Permadi from Surabaya had to return because the weather was quite bad and the waves were high,” Edy said.

Despite the difficult sea conditions, all SAR units continue to operate in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOP). Basarnas also noted the captain’s report stating that the vessel developed a list after waves struck the starboard side of the hull.

“The search vessels and maritime assets involved in the operation are proceeding according to SOP. Regarding the captain’s statement, the vessel developed a list due to waves hitting the starboard side,” he said.

Basarnas has released the passenger list for KM Virgo Transport 8, which arrived at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin. The SAR team successfully rescued 122 victims. 85 have been identified, while 37 remain under identification.

Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi instructed that the evacuation of passengers from KMP Virgo Transport 8 be made the top priority. Coordination to support search and rescue operations, as well as victim handling at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, is being accelerated.

“Our priority now is to locate and rescue as many passengers and crew members of KMP Virgo Transport 8 as possible. We will immediately provide the best possible assistance to those who have been found,” Dudy said in a statement issued by the Ministry of Transportation on September 14, 2026.

The Ministry of Transportation, together with Basarnas and relevant agencies, continues to support the search operation until all victims are found. An integrated command post at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, serves as the coordination center for passenger handling and the dissemination of updates on the SAR operation’s progress. (Misni Parjiati)