114 Found, 129 Missing After KM Virgo Transport 8 Lost Contact in Java Sea

Banjarmasin — Search teams had found 114 people from KM Virgo Transport 8 by Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, including 108 survivors and six fatalities, while 129 others remained missing after the vessel lost contact in the Masalembo waters of the Java Sea, according to Basarnas as reported by Metro TV and RRI.

The updated toll was confirmed by Basarnas chief Mohammad Syafii at 22:00 WITA on the third day of the search, Metro TV reported. RRI said the same figure had been used by officials as the joint SAR operation continued in the Masalembo area.

The ferry was travelling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin when it lost contact around 02:00 WITA on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, according to RRI and VOA Indonesia. Officials said the ship was carrying 243 people.

Deputy Transportation Minister Suntana said the captain had arrived and was being questioned as part of the investigation, according to RRI. Officials also said the voyage data recorder had not yet been found and that the National Transportation Safety Committee would examine the case.

Authorities continued to expand the search on Tuesday, with air and sea assets deployed around the accident area, according to Metro TV. The operation was still focused on locating passengers who had not been accounted for and on recovering evidence from the wreck.

Key figures

• Total on board: 243
• Found: 114
• Survivors: 108
• Dead: 6
• Missing: 129

The incident occurred in waters off Masalembo, a frequently busy part of the Java Sea used by passenger and cargo services between East Java and South Kalimantan. The vessel had left Surabaya on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.

Officials did not announce a final cause for the accident in the reports reviewed, and the investigation remained under way.

Sources

• Metro TV News
• RRI