Search for Victims of Sunk Ship 'Virgo' Extended to Kalimantan and Java Coasts

The search for the sunken cargo ship 'Virgo' in the Java Sea, off the coast of Indonesia, has been expanded to coastal areas of Kalimantan (Central and West) and Java Island (Surabaya to Semarang, Central Java), aiming to collect recovered bodies and broaden the search area. Banjarmasin (September 22, 2026) - The Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) is urging coastal communities in Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, and around Java Island to immediately report any discoveries of bodies from the sunken cargo ship 'Virgo Transport' in the Java Sea. I Putu Sudayana, Head of the Banjarmasin Class A Search and Rescue Office and SAR Mission Coordinator, stated on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) that disseminating information to coastal communities is part of the Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts, as joint teams continue their operations at the wreck site in the Java Sea. In addition to informing coastal residents, Basarnas is also communicating with vessels through e-broadcasts and maritime notices, ensuring that anyone who finds victims can promptly provide information to the SAR team to expedite the evacuation process. "Information has been disseminated along the coastal areas from Central Kalimantan to West Kalimantan, while on Java Island, it has been spread from Surabaya to Semarang, Central Java," Sudayana said. This initiative aims to extend the reach of the search information, enabling the SAR team to quickly identify and follow up on any discoveries of victims in areas outside the main operation zone. Regarding the 10th day of SAR operations at the accident site, Sudayana reported that weather conditions on Tuesday afternoon began to see increased wave heights starting around 2:00 PM WITA, with waves reaching approximately 2 to 2.5 meters. "In the morning, the joint diving team successfully found three deceased victims. However, only one dive sortie was conducted in the afternoon with no results. We hope the subsequent searches will yield better outcomes," Sudayana remarked. Addressing concerns about body parts being carried away by currents after divers successfully broke glass in several parts of the ship, Sudayana explained that the victims are inside compartments of the vessel where the currents are not too strong, thus preventing them from being swept away by underwater flow. Source: Liputan6