BANJARMASIN, Indonesia — The search for victims of Indonesia’s Virgo Transport 8 ferry disaster has entered a critical new phase after Navy divers recovered three bodies from inside the sunken vessel, while authorities began an operation to reposition the wreck and make further searches possible.
The three bodies — two men and one woman — were recovered on Friday, Sept. 18, raising the confirmed death toll to nine. A total of 108 people have been rescued, while 126 remain unaccounted for, according to the latest figures reported by Reuters and AP.
The numbers represent a significant update from earlier stages of the operation, when authorities had reported six deaths and 129 people missing.
Divers finally enter the wreck
The breakthrough came after days of dangerous sea conditions prevented rescuers from conducting extensive underwater searches.
According to Reuters, Navy divers initially approached the vessel to install a safety line when they spotted a body through one of the ship’s windows. They broke the glass and entered the wreck to recover it.
Two additional bodies were subsequently located.
However, strong underwater currents forced the diving operation to stop. Navy officials said the safest and most productive diving period is generally between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m., when conditions are more favorable.
The discovery has intensified attention on the possibility that additional victims could still be inside the vessel.
Authorities begin operation to right the ferry
The Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea early Sunday after encountering rough weather during a scheduled voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.
The vessel was carrying 243 people, including passengers and crew, on what was expected to be a roughly 20-hour journey. Authorities lost contact with the ship at about 2 a.m., and it was later found overturned in the Masalembo waters of the Java Sea.
After remaining partially afloat for several days, the ferry eventually sank completely to the seabed.
Authorities have now begun a salvage operation intended to move the vessel toward shallower water and right it, allowing rescue teams to gain better access to the interior.
The operation is being led by the ship’s owner with assistance from Indonesia’s rescue agency, Navy and maritime police, according to Reuters.
Search teams face dangerous conditions
The rescue effort has been repeatedly hampered by strong currents, high waves and poor underwater conditions.
Reuters reported that the wreck is lying roughly 29 metres below the surface, while Indonesian authorities previously said the vessel had shifted about 453 metres southeast from its original position. Basarnas also reported no visible fuel, oil or other pollution around the wreck during an aerial inspection.
The operation has involved a large multi-agency response, with Indonesian authorities deploying ships, aircraft, Navy personnel and rescue teams to search the surrounding waters.
Reuters reported that eight ships and two helicopters were deployed on Friday for air and surface searches, although weather and sea conditions continued to complicate the operation.
What happened to Virgo Transport 8?
The ferry was sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin when the captain reported problems during rough weather.
According to AP, waves in the area reached approximately 3 metres, and contact with the vessel was subsequently lost. The ferry was later confirmed overturned in the Masalembo area, approximately 148 kilometres from Banjarmasin.
The vessel was also carrying vehicles as part of its scheduled service.
Earlier in the rescue operation, bad weather prevented some survivors from being immediately brought ashore. CNA reported that nearly two dozen survivors were evacuated to Banjarmasin on Sept. 15 after weather conditions had delayed their evacuation.
Indonesian government orders investigation
The disaster has also prompted an official investigation.
Indonesia’s Cabinet Secretariat said President Prabowo Subianto ordered a thorough and objective investigation into the Virgo Transport 8 accident, directing the Transportation Ministry to coordinate with Basarnas and involving the police and Indonesian military.
The government also said the rights of victims’ families should be protected during the response.
Indonesian authorities have separately emphasized that the ship’s owner has responsibility for the salvage operation under the country’s maritime regulations. Basarnas said it was working with the owner and technical experts because repositioning the wreck could assist the continuing search for victims.
Families wait as underwater search continues
For families waiting for news, Friday’s recovery of three bodies provided both a breakthrough and a grim indication of the challenges still facing rescuers.
The discovery demonstrates that access to the ferry’s interior is possible under the right conditions, but the dangerous currents and complicated structure of the wreck continue to limit how long divers can safely operate underwater.
Authorities are expected to continue both surface searches and underwater recovery efforts, with the salvage operation aimed at making the wreck more accessible.
For now, 126 people remain unaccounted for.
The search will continue as Indonesian rescuers attempt to reach more sections of the sunken ferry and determine whether additional victims remain inside.
This story is developing.
