Story perspectives

Ferry Capsizing Death Toll Rises to 28 in Indonesia

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 3:42 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Virgo Transport 8 Capsizes

Indonesia's National Rescue Agency said the death toll rose to 28.
The Virgo Transport 8 ferry capsized in bad weather on September 13 while traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.
The ship carried 243 people, including 30 crew members.
Officials confirmed 108 survivors and 107 people remained missing.
Two bodies washed ashore 253 km from the accident site as search operations continued through September 27.

Summary

I Putu Sudayana Airlifts

Agency I Putu Sudayana will airlift a recovered victim to a forensic identification facility.
Agency I Putu Sudayana deployed a remotely operated vehicle to guide divers inside the hull.
Rescue officials hope Monday’s weather will allow further victim extraction.
The recovery effort was extended by one week because many passengers remain missing.
Divers recovered three victims on Friday and one on Sunday, totaling four bodies.

History

Historical Context

The 2002 Senegal disaster, when the motor-vessel MV Le Joola capsized and killed 1,863 people, echoed the 2024 Indonesian Virgo Transport 8 ferry tragedy that left only 108 survivors. The ‘MV’ prefix, meaning motor vessel, underscores a long-standing pattern of over-capacity voyages and prompted international regulators to review safety standards.

1 of 3

Virgo Transport 8 Capsizes

Indonesia's National Rescue Agency said the death toll rose to 28.
The Virgo Transport 8 ferry capsized in bad weather on September 13 while traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin.
The ship carried 243 people, including 30 crew members.
Officials confirmed 108 survivors and 107 people remained missing.
Two bodies washed ashore 253 km from the accident site as search operations continued through September 27.

1 / 3