Indonesia ferry sinking death toll rises to 28 as underwater search widens
The death toll from the capsizing and sinking of the passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8 off Indonesia has risen to 28, with rescuers widening underwater search efforts as 107 people remain missing.
The ferry was carrying 243 people, including 30 crew members and an unknown number of vehicles, when it capsized in bad weather early on September 13 while sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. According to Reuters, Coast guard and Navy personnel recovered 16 bodies from inside the vessel over the past three days, including nine on Wednesday. Two additional bodies were found washed ashore about 253 km from the accident site, according to Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s National Rescue Agency.
As of September 23, authorities had confirmed 28 fatalities, 107 people missing and 108 survivors. The search and rescue operation has been extended until September 27.
Underwater search faces challenging conditions
The latest search efforts are focused on the ferry’s hull, particularly its cabins, where rescuers believe a number of passengers remain trapped.
Divers broke the cabin windows on Tuesday but were unable to enter because of poor visibility caused by murky water and strong currents. I Putu Sudayana, head of the Banjarmasin rescue agency, said rescuers were concentrating on the hull after finding multiple passengers inside the cabins.
Tim Basarnas Special Group (BSG) menyelam dilokasi tenggelamnya KM Virgo Transport 8, Laut Jawa, pada Minggu (20/9/2026).
Penyelam BSG kemudian masuk ke dalam bangkai kapal dan menemukan sejumlah korban di beberapa titik. Seluruh korban dievakuasi ke KN SAR Kamajaya untuk… pic.twitter.com/BZibCkMBPG
— jktlife (@joneshop) September 20, 2026
Authorities are also working to right the capsized vessel, although it remained overturned on Wednesday.
Once the cabin search is completed, rescuers may turn their attention to vehicles carried aboard the ferry. However, Sudayana warned that the vehicles appeared to have shifted and piled on top of one another, creating additional risks for divers.
The operation is therefore continuing with a focus on recovering those still inside the vessel while managing the risks posed by strong currents, poor underwater visibility and the unstable condition of the capsized ferry.
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