Virgo Transport 8 Ship Goes Missing in the Java Sea, 140 People Still Being Searched, 1 Dead
The joint SAR team is still searching for 140 passengers of the KM Virgo Transport 8 that lost contact in the Java Sea while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin on Sunday (Sept 13, 2026). Out of a total of 243 passengers, 103 have been evacuated, but one person has died.
Banjarmasin Search and Rescue Office Head I Putu Sudayana said the evacuation involved several ships, including the TB Mahausaha 9 which rescued 16 people (15 survived, 1 died), the TB TCP which saved 38 people, and the MP Haida which rescued 49. All survivors from the last two ships will be taken to Banjarmasin.
The search involves Basarnas with the KN SAR Laksamana, the Navy with the KRI Nala, the Sea Transportation Office, the Navigation District with the KN Kunyit, Pelindo, plus a Basarnas helicopter doing searches from the air. Meanwhile, the 16 passengers from the TB Mahausaha 9 will be brought to the Port of Tuban in East Java.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/09/