en.malanginspirasi.com – Search and rescue operations are continuing for passengers aboard the KM Virgo Transport 8 after the vessel lost contact in the Java Sea.
As of Sunday afternoon, 103 passengers had been successfully evacuated, while one person was confirmed dead.
The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying a total of 243 passengers on a journey from Surabaya, East Java, to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
The vessel reportedly lost contact in the early hours of Sunday as weather and sea conditions deteriorated.
According to the latest report from the scene, difficult weather and high waves have become major challenges for the evacuation operation. The rough sea conditions have made the rescue process more difficult and time-consuming.
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), together with the Indonesian Navy, has continued efforts to locate and evacuate passengers.
Around 25 Basarnas personnel were initially deployed to the area to conduct search and rescue operations.
Additional personnel have also been deployed as Basarnas and the Indonesian Navy work together to accelerate the evacuation of passengers who remain at the scene.
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Although 103 people have been rescued, they are still undergoing the evacuation process and have not yet arrived at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin.
The difficult sea conditions and high waves have made the transfer of rescued passengers from rescue vessels to shore a lengthy process.
Passengers who have been rescued are expected to receive initial assistance aboard rescue vessels before being transported to hospitals in the Banjarmasin area.
Once they reach the mainland, survivors will also be directed to the national emergency response post for the Virgo Transport 8 incident at Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin.
Families Arrive at Emergency Post
Meanwhile, families of passengers have continued arriving at the emergency post to seek the latest information about their relatives.
Families seeking official information about the search and evacuation of passengers aboard the Virgo Transport 8 are advised to visit the National Emergency Post at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin.
The post serves as an official information center for updates on the incident. Families have also been urged not to rely on unverified information or videos circulating on social media.
As of the latest update, Basarnas and the Indonesian Navy are continuing search and evacuation operations. Further information regarding when the rescued passengers will be brought back to the emergency post or transported to shore is still awaited from the teams working at the scene.
Rescue teams are continuing their efforts in the hope that all passengers still being searched for can be located and safely evacuated.
