Indonesia Ferry Disaster: 3 Bodies Recovered as Virgo Transport 8 Salvage Begins
Rescue teams in Banjarmasin, Indonesia, recovered three bodies from the capsized ferry Virgo Transport 8 on Friday while preparing to begin salvage operations on the sunken vessel, according to official reports. The operation brings the confirmed death toll from the disaster to nine, with 126 people remaining missing following the accident in the Java Sea.
## Diver Recovery and Wreckage Conditions
Improved weather conditions on Friday enabled a team of 17 divers to descend to the wreck using guide ropes installed the previous day, according to Col. Galih Nurna Putra, commander of the Banjarmasin Naval Base. Divers broke a window to enter the ship and recovered the bodies of two men and a woman. The recovered victims will be transferred to Banjarmasin.
The 119-meter ferry drifted roughly 453 meters southeast from its original sinking site, resting upside down on the seabed at a depth of 29 meters, according to Yudhi Bramantyo, operations director at Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency. The vessel’s stern is embedded in the sea floor while the bow remains between 5 and 6 meters below the surface. Authorities stated that no fuel leakage or signs of oil pollution have been detected around the wreck.
## Passenger Manifest and Rescue Operations
The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people when the captain issued a distress call at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday, reporting that the ship was listing in rough seas with waves reaching 3 meters. Officials lost contact with the vessel around that time and learned two hours later that it had overturned in the Masalembo waters of the Java Sea, roughly 148 kilometers from Banjarmasin.
According to the official manifest, the vessel carried 213 passengers and 30 crew members, alongside 89 vehicles. Passenger totals in Indonesia frequently differ from official manifest records. A total of 108 people were rescued following the accident, according to Yudhi Bramantyo. The ship was built in Japan in 1987 and operated there until the previous year, running a route from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan on Borneo island.
## Investigation and Salvage Preparations
President Prabowo ordered a thorough investigation into the accident and directed officials to ensure the rights of victims’ families are protected, according to the Cabinet Secretariat. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation launched a probe into the alleged import ineligibility of the ferry, as reported by ANTARA News.
Search and rescue authorities have concluded discussions regarding the next steps and prepared necessary equipment to initiate salvage operations, according to Bramantyo.