Day 13 of KM Virgo: 160 Victims Found, 83 Still Missing in the Java Sea

The SAR operation for the KM Virgo Transport 8 accident in the Java Sea entered its 13th day with 160 victims evacuated, consisting of 108 survivors and 52 dead. The head of the Class A SAR Office in Banjarmasin, I Putu Sudayana, stated that of the 243 people on the manifest, 83 victims are still being searched for. The statement was made at a press conference at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Friday (25/9) evening.

Although the bodies of the victims evacuated were still anatomically intact, Putu acknowledged damage and bacterial contamination that posed a particular challenge. "The condition of the bodies is no longer good, extra caution is needed. We want the victims to remain intact during evacuation," he said. Bacterial contamination not only complicates the evacuation process but also endangers the safety of divers working underwater.

The slow pace of the evacuation highlights the complexity of searching in deep waters, especially as the condition of the bodies deteriorates. Basarnas stressed that the top priority is to save the living victims and recover the dead with dignity. However, the rate at which the remaining victims are being found has drawn public attention given that nearly two weeks have passed.

"These bodies have been contaminated by bacteria. This is also risky for our divers," said Putu.

In the Indonesian context, maritime accidents remain a serious threat to transportation safety. Data from the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) shows that extreme weather, overloading, and weak safety standards are often the causes. The KM Virgo Transport 8 incident should be a momentum for a thorough evaluation of shipping regulations and emergency response procedures.

The government, through the Ministry of Transportation, needs to strengthen oversight of passenger ships, including verification of manifests and carrying capacity. In addition, investment in search and rescue technology, such as advanced sonar and underwater robots, could speed up evacuations in the future. The public is also urged to be more aware of weather conditions before traveling by sea.

Going forward, the crucial question is whether the SAR operation will be able to find all the remaining victims soon, and how the government will ensure a similar tragedy does not recur. With 83 people still missing, the victims' families continue to wait for certainty, while public pressure for transparency and accountability in the operation grows stronger.