Banjarmasin, en.SERU.co.id – A passenger MV Virgo Transport 8 traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin lost contact early Sunday after encountering severe weather in the Java Sea. As of 12:00 WITA, rescuers had brought 103 people to safety while one person was found dead. Search teams are still looking for the remaining 140 passengers and crew.
Head of the Class A Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin, I Putu Sudayana, said three nearby vessels had carried out the evacuations by midday.
“A total of 16 people were evacuated to TB Mauhau, 38 to TB TCP, and 49 others to MV Haida. Of the 16 people evacuated to TB Mauhau, one was found dead. The total number of people successfully evacuated is 103,” Sudayana said, as reported by detikcom on Sunday (13/9/2026).
That leaves 140 people still unaccounted for. Field teams continue to verify passenger lists and update the progress of the rescue operation.
The incident began when MV Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 people, ran into heavy weather around 01:00 WIB. The ferry’s general manager notified the Banjarmasin SAR office at approximately 04:10 WIB. Authorities immediately dispatched the rescue ship KN SAR Laksmana 241 to the vessel’s last known position, about 80 nautical miles from the Basirih SAR jetty. The trip was estimated to take roughly five hours.
Basarnas Command Center also broadcast alerts across multiple radio channels and shared digital prediction maps to assist the search. The ongoing operation involves the Banjarmasin SAR office, a SAR helicopter, Indonesian Navy vessels, water police units, and other supporting assets. (aan/mzm)
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