Emergency coordination center set up after Virgo Transport 8 incident in Masalembo waters

In response to the Virgo Transport 8 incident, KSOP Banjarmasin head Heri Purwanto announced the formation of an emergency coordination post linking the regional SAR office, state port operator Pelindo, the navigation district office, ship agents and relatives of those aboard. The Indonesian-flagged passenger ro-ro left Surabaya at 6:52 a.m. on Saturday and began listing, losing contact near Masalembo at about 2 a.m. on Sunday.

The vessel carried 243 individuals, including crew, workers, passengers, a child and drivers. Joint SAR operations, supported by nearby vessels KM Hai Da, MT Mau Ha and TB TCP, have evacuated 103 people; 102 survived and one died. Evacuees are being taken to Tuban Port and Trisakti Port as the search for the remaining persons continues.