Antara News·Indonesia·Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 03:04 AM

Basarnas continues searching for 64 missing Virgo Transport 8 Victims

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Tumpal AA, Rahmad Nasution

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) deployed all available teams in Central Kalimantan to continue searching for 64 missing victims of KM Virgo Transport 8 after 18 bodies were recovered from waters off Seruyan and Sukamara.

I Putu Sudayana, head of the Banjarmasin SAR Office and SAR Mission Coordinator, said Basarnas had appointed the head of its Palangka Raya office to coordinate operations in Central Kalimantan.

"Central Kalimantan is conducting a SAR operation. All personnel have been deployed and have been searching the region, particularly coastal areas, since yesterday," Putu told a news conference here on Monday evening.

The operation involves local police, military units and community members supporting searches along coastal areas and waters, particularly around Seruyan and Sukamara, he said.

"Basarnas is also coordinating with coastal communities, fishermen and SAR offices in Pontianak, Sulawesi and Semarang to distribute information about the search through local networks," he said.

Sudayana said the coordination was necessary because fishermen from Surabaya, Lamongan, Probolinggo and Central Java also fish in waters around Kalimantan.

Basarnas has also continued mayday broadcasts through Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), alerting vessels along the accident route and asking them to assist if they find victims.

Support from the navigation district through Search and Rescue Officers (SROs) is also being provided to distribute information to vessels sailing near the accident site through navigation notices.

"All efforts continue, with personnel and various agencies involved, to support the search for victims of KM Virgo Transport 8 who remain missing," Putu said.

As of 10 p.m. local time Monday, the 16th day of the SAR operation, Basarnas said 179 of 243 people listed on the manifest had been found: 108 survivors and 71 dead, while 64 remained missing.

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