Antara News·Indonesia·Monday, September 14, 2026 at 09:17 AM

Virgo Transport 8 was not overloaded when it lost contact: Minister

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Tumpal Andani Aritonang, Yashinta Difa

The passenger capacity of Virgo Transport 8 is 500 people, so the number was well below the maximum limit,

Banjarmasin, S. Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Virgo Transport 8 was operating at less than half its maximum passenger capacity when it lost contact in the Java Sea, Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed on Monday, dismissing early speculation that overloading had contributed to the disaster.

Speaking at a press conference on the search and rescue (SAR) operation at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, the minister said the ship was carrying 243 passengers, well below its maximum permitted capacity of 500 people.

"The passenger capacity of Virgo Transport 8 is 500 people, so the number was well below the maximum limit," Dudy said.

The vessel lost contact in waters off Masalembo at around 2:00 a.m. Central Indonesian Time (WITA) on Sunday while en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.

As of 11:00 a.m. WITA on Monday, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported that 114 of the 243 people on board had been accounted for, including 108 survivors and six confirmed fatalities.

Rescuers are continuing to search for the remaining 129 people who are still missing.

A total of 86 people, including 85 survivors and one deceased passenger, had already been brought ashore at Trisakti Port.

Addressing the condition of those evacuated, Minister Dudy said survivors requiring urgent medical attention were immediately taken to nearby hospitals.

"Meanwhile, survivors who were in relatively good condition were handed over to the shipping operator to receive assistance in returning to their respective homes," he said, adding that search and rescue operations in the Java Sea were still underway.

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