Virgo Transport 8 capsizing: 243 aboard, 129 still missing in Java Sea

Banjarmasin — — Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) is continuing operations to find people missing after the capsizing of the passenger ship Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea, but no credible public reports confirm a formal seven-day extension of the search as of September 19, 2026.

The Virgo Transport 8, a roll-on/roll-off passenger vessel, lost contact in bad weather early on Sunday, September 13, 2026, while sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. The ship was later confirmed capsized near the Masalembu island group in the Java Sea, about 148 kilometres from Banjarmasin, according to rescue officials and local media.

Casualty figures and manifest

Basarnas and transport officials have stated that the ship was carrying 243 people, comprising 213 passengers and 30 crew, based on the vessel’s manifest. As of mid-week after the incident, authorities consistently reported 108 survivors, six confirmed fatalities and 129 people still missing.

Indonesia’s national media and international agencies cite the same figures. On September 14, Basarnas data relayed by local outlets reported 108 people rescued and six dead, with 129 people unaccounted for from a total of 243 on board. International wire reports on September 16 and 17 repeated that the tallies had not changed since Sunday: six dead, 108 rescued, 129 missing.

Earlier variations in reported numbers — including higher counts of evacuees and fatalities — appear in some local coverage from September 13, but subsequent updates and official summaries converge on the 243 total manifest and the 108–6–129 distribution.

Search and rescue operations

Basarnas has led a large-scale search and rescue effort involving the Indonesian navy, coast guard and other agencies. Rescue teams deployed state SAR vessels, including KN SAR Laksmana 241, to the ship’s last known position, approximately 80 nautical miles from the Basirih SAR jetty in Banjarmasin.

In the first days after the capsize, hundreds of rescuers focused on air and sea surface searches around the overturned hull, but rough seas and strong currents repeatedly hampered attempts to conduct underwater operations. By September 17, Basarnas officials said they were preparing to right the capsized vessel to facilitate an underwater search for the 129 people still missing, though persistent bad weather continued to limit diving activities.

Reports from September 13–17 describe plans to use navy divers to enter the hull when conditions allow, and note that at least three bodies were recovered from inside the ship by Indonesian naval diving teams. However, available public sources do not document a specific seven-day extension decision dated September 19, nor do they list detailed daily rotation schedules for named dive teams or particular support vessels beyond the initial SAR deployment.

Route, conditions and broader impact

The Virgo Transport 8 was operating a regular route between Surabaya and Banjarmasin when it encountered severe weather in the Java Sea. Officials and survivors have described the vessel developing a heavy list before capsizing in the early hours of September 13, after losing contact at around 01:00–02:00 local time.

As of the latest reports consulted, authorities are continuing to search for the missing and to manage access to the accident site, while the cause of the capsize remains under investigation. No publicly available statements from national regulators or port authorities indicate a blanket suspension of regional ferry services on the Surabaya–Banjarmasin corridor, though officials have urged operators and passengers to pay close attention to weather advisories and safety notices.

Key established data

• Vessel: Virgo Transport 8, roll-on/roll-off passenger ship
• Route: Surabaya, East Java, to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan
• Manifest: 243 people (213 passengers, 30 crew)
• Accounted for (mid-week after incident): 114 found, including 108 survivors and six fatalities
• Missing: 129 people
• Incident area: Masalembu/Masalembo waters, Java Sea, about 148 km from Banjarmasin
• Incident date: capsize and loss of contact early Sunday, September 13, 2026

Sources

• Wikipedia Bahasa Indonesia – Tenggelamnya KM Virgo Transport 8
• Reuters – Indonesia rescuers battle turbulent seas in search for 129 missing
• RRI – KM Virgo Transport 8 Listing di Perairan Masalembu
• BBC News Indonesia – Tim penyelam TNI AL evakuasi tiga jenazah dari dalam KM Virgo
• NPR – Indonesian passenger ship overturns, sparking search for at least 129 missing
• Detik – Basarnas Kerahkan Tim Cari Kapal Virgo Angkut 243 Orang
• Suara.com – Laka Maut KM Virgo di Laut Masalembo