Virgo Transport 8 incident: Part of Banjarmasin Port becomes emergency coordination centre

A woman reacts upon learning that her relative is among the survivors of the Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 people, which met with an accident en route from Surabaya, East Java to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, at Trisakti Bandarmasih Port in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Sept 13, 2026, after the passenger vessel was reported lost contact due to bad weather. One person was killed and more than 100 were rescued on Sunday after a ferry sailing between the Indonesian islands of Java and Borneo was hit by bad weather, rescue officials said. - Photo: AFP

JAKARTA: (Bernama) Indonesian authorities have turned part of Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, into an emergency coordination and reception centre following the Virgo Transport 8 incident in the Java Sea, according to local media reports.

Banjarmasin Class I Harbourmaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) chief Heri Purwanto said the emergency post serves as a coordination centre for the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), port operator Pelindo, navigation authorities, the agent of the ship, and families of those on board.

Meanwhile, Pelindo Banjarmasin General Manager Ari Sudarono said the port operator has also prepared a medical examination room equipped with camp beds to support the agencies involved in the operation.

"We are assisting the relevant agencies by providing search post facilities that can be used to support coordination and operational needs,” he was quoted as saying by Indonesia's national news agency, Antara.

Basarnas earlier said 103 of the 243 people aboard the ship had been evacuated as of noon Sunday (Sept 13), with one person reported dead, while search efforts continued for those still unaccounted for.

The passenger ship had departed Surabaya in East Java for Banjarmasin on Saturday before communication with it was lost at about 2am Sunday in bad weather in the Java Sea. Basarnas was alerted of the incident at 4.10am.

Relatives of passengers aboard the Virgo Transport 8 ship that, according to a search and rescue agency, sank while sailing from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, examine a manifest list as they look for news about the search and rescue operation, at Trisakti port in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan province, Indonesia, Sept 13, 2026. - Photo: Reuters

The last known position of the ship was about 80 nautical miles from the SAR base in Banjarmasin.

Local media, citing a Pelindo official, reported that the ship had developed a leak in bad weather before capsizing and subsequently sinking, although Basarnas has yet to confirm its condition.

Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said it had received no information so far indicating that any Malaysian nationals were involved, while the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta remained in contact with Indonesian authorities to verify the passenger list and obtain further information.

People look for the names of their family members on a passenger list after a ferry overturned in bad weather in the Java Sea, at the rescuers command center in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, Sunday, Sept 13, 2026. - Photo: AP

Meanwhile, volunteer ambulance coordinator Gapuri said about 30 ambulances had been placed on standby at Trisakti Port following instructions from Basarnas to help government ambulances cope with those evacuated from the ship, as some were reported to require medical treatment.

He said the volunteer ambulances were equipped with oxygen, stretchers, latex gloves, and masks to provide initial assistance to victims before they receive further treatment at health facilities. - Bernama