Basarnas Helicopter Evacuates Virgo Transport 8 Accident Survivor - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Dauphin helicopter HR 36012 successfully evacuated a female survivor during the search and rescue operation for the KM Virgo Transport 8 passenger ship accident in the Java Sea on the second day of the search on Monday, September 14.

On Monday, Singgih, a spokesperson for Basarnas in Banjarmasin, confirmed that the victim, identified as Mia Melinda (28) from Kendal, was successfully evacuated by a Basarnas Dauphin helicopter (HR 36012).

“A Basarnas helicopter evacuated the survivor and landed at Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base in Banjarbaru at approximately 14:15 WITA (Central Indonesia Time),” he said, as quoted by ANTARA.

Upon arrival at Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base, Singgih said the victim was referred to the Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base Hospital in Banjarbaru for further medical treatment following their evacuation from the search and rescue (SAR) operation site.

As of Monday at 15:30 WITA, Basarnas confirmed that 115 victims had been found—comprising 109 survivors and six fatalities—leaving 128 people still missing out of a total of 243.

Of the 115 victims located so far, 86 have arrived at Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin—comprising 85 survivors and one deceased victim—while one victim arrived at Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base, and another 28 are currently being evacuated from the accident site to Trisakti Port.

The Virgo Transport 8 ship, carrying 243 passengers, reportedly lost contact in the waters of Masalembo, Java Sea, around 02:00 WITA on Sunday while en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, having departed on Saturday.