Diving Team Recovers Another Dead Victim Trapped Inside KM Virgo
BANJARMASIN, KOMPAS.com - A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team has once again found a deceased victim trapped inside the KM Virgo Transport 8 ship on Sunday (9/20/2026).
The Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal (Marsma) TNI Mohammad Syafii, confirmed the discovery of the body.
Syafii said the body was found by Basarnas Special Group (BSG) divers conducting a search inside the ship’s hull.
After the victim was located, the joint SAR team evacuated the body to the State Ship (KN) SAR Kamajaya for further handling.
“The discovery of one victim today is the result of the hard work of the entire Joint SAR Team. We will continue the efforts,” Syafii told reporters Sunday afternoon.
To speed up the evacuation process, the SAR team transported the body to Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base in Banjarbaru by helicopter.
Upon arrival at Syamsudin Noor Air Base, the body will then be taken to Bhayangkara Hospital in Banjarmasin for identification purposes.
“The victim will be evacuated by air using the Basarnas HR 3601 helicopter with a hoisting rescue net technique. This technique is used to safely and carefully lift the victim from the ship to the helicopter,” Syafii explained.
Syafii emphasized that the team will continue to maximize efforts to search for the remaining victims believed to still be trapped inside the ship.
“We will continue to conduct the search as thoroughly as possible while prioritizing the safety of all personnel in the field. Every victim found is a responsibility that we must evacuate and return to their families,” Syafii said.
Previously, KM Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 passengers, was involved in an accident in the South Kalimantan waters during a voyage from Surabaya to Banjarmasin on Sunday (9/13/2026) early morning.
In the incident, 117 passengers have been evacuated, 108 survived, and 9 others died.
Currently, the joint SAR team is still searching for 126 passengers strongly believed to be trapped inside the ship at the time of the accident.
