Search teams recover bodies as Virgo Transport 8 death toll rises
Six dead, 129 missing as search continues for Virgo Transport 8 capsizing victims in Java Sea.
Event / Disaster
Indonesia Maritime Disasters
Multiple maritime incidents in Indonesian waters including ferry capsizing and boat disappearances with significant casualties and ongoing search operations.
3 reported locations
Daily activity
4 articles0 articles
2026-09-13 to 2026-11-06 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 13 Sept, 09:29 UTC
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What happened
Ferry Virgo Transport 8 capsizes between Java and Borneo
The ferry Virgo Transport 8, carrying 213 passengers and 30 crew members, capsized while traveling from Surabaya on Java to Banjarmasin on Borneo. The vessel departed on Saturday and lost contact early Sunday morning in rough seas with waves exceeding 2.5 meters in height.
Large-scale search and rescue operation launched in Indonesia
Five aircraft and 17 naval vessels, including warships, were deployed to search for missing persons. The Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency chief Mohammad Syafii announced that divers and underwater drones would be deployed to search inside and around the sunken ferry wreck, which had been located.
Six confirmed dead in Indonesian ferry disaster
Six people were confirmed dead following the capsizing of ferry Virgo Transport 8 between Java and Borneo.
Fast boat missing near Mount Anak Krakatau with eight people aboard
A fast boat carrying eight people, including five journalists, went missing near Mount Anak Krakatau on the west coast of Java on September 7. Search operations continued to locate the vessel and its passengers.
129 people missing after Indonesian ferry capsizes
129 people remained missing after the capsizing of the ferry Virgo Transport 8. Of the 243 people on board, 108 were rescued.
Intensive search operation underway for missing ferry passengers
Indonesian authorities deployed 622 personnel across 17 ships and aircraft to search for the 129 missing people on Monday. The search effort included personnel from the military, police, and other agencies, along with specialized underwater teams and navy-operated underwater drones to strengthen search and rescue operations.
Ferry had more passengers than manifest indicated
The Virgo Transport 8's manifest listed 243 people aboard (213 passengers and 30 crew members), though authorities noted it is common in Indonesia for the actual number of passengers to differ from official manifests, raising uncertainty about the exact number of people on board.
Recent ferry fire incidents in Indonesian waters
In separate incidents in the month prior to the capsizing, two ferries caught fire in Indonesian waters. Five people died when a ferry caught fire off Madura Island, and one person died in a fire aboard a ferry traveling from the tourist island of Bali.
Six dead, 129 missing in Indonesian ferry capsizing
Six people were confirmed dead and 129 people remained missing as of Monday following the capsizing of the Virgo Transport 8 ferry in the Java Sea. Search and rescue teams recovered six bodies and rescued 108 people on Sunday.
Virgo Transport 8 ferry capsizes in Java Sea off Indonesia
The Virgo Transport 8, a 119-meter ferry built in Japan in 1987 and operating in Indonesia, capsized in the Java Sea on Sunday in rough seas with waves up to three meters high. The vessel was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, carrying 243 people (213 passengers and 30 crew members) plus 89 vehicles. The captain issued a distress call reporting the ship was listing heavily after waves hit the starboard side. Contact was lost at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday, and the vessel overturned in Masalembo waters about 148 kilometers from Banjarmasin.
Ship encountered bad weather before losing contact
The vessel's operator reported that the Virgo Transport 8 had encountered bad weather conditions before losing contact with authorities. This information was provided to authorities by the ship's operator, PT Virgo Yoel Rihi, when reporting the incident.
No immediate casualties reported from missing passenger ship
As of the time of reporting, there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries from the incident involving the Virgo Transport 8.
Indonesian passenger ship Virgo Transport 8 loses contact in Java Sea
The passenger ship Virgo Transport 8, carrying 241 people, lost contact while traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province. The ship departed Surabaya on Saturday at 10:13 a.m. local time and contact was lost at approximately 2 a.m. on Sunday. The vessel's last known position was approximately 92 miles (148 kilometers) from a pier in Banjarmasin in the Java Sea.
Indonesian rescue operation launched after ship loses communication
Indonesian authorities launched a search and rescue operation after the Virgo Transport 8 lost communication. The Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin received a report two hours after contact was lost. Rescue teams were dispatched to Banjarmasin's Basirih Search and Rescue pier, and a rescue ship was sent to the vessel's estimated last known position. Authorities mobilized all available personnel and assets and coordinated with maritime authorities and other relevant agencies.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Indonesian ferries operating with overcapacity amid persistent safety gaps
Overcrowded ferries and recurring fires expose systemic safety failures in Indonesian maritime operations.
Ferry capsizing leaves six dead, 129 missing in Java Sea
Ferry capsizes in Java Sea with six dead and 129 missing; intensive search underway.
Rescue operation underway after Indonesian passenger ship loses contact
Indonesian rescue operation launched after passenger ship Virgo Transport 8 loses contact in Java Sea.