Indonesian Divers Recover 52 Bodies from Sinking Ferry, 83 Still Missing

Indonesian divers recover 52 bodies from capsized ferry with 83 missing. Search efforts continue in Java Sea.

September 25, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Banjarmasin, Indonesia — Divers have recovered 52 bodies from the Indonesian ferry that sank in rough seas earlier this month, according to officials.

The Virgo Transport 8 was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan on Borneo when it sent a distress call on September 13, reporting that the vessel was tilting in waves up to 3 meters high. The ship later capsized in the Masalembo archipelago of the Java Sea.

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Rescue teams located 108 survivors following the incident, but 83 people remain unaccounted for. Divers entered the wreck by breaking its underwater windows to retrieve the bodies. Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency has mobilized all available resources for the operation. The agency plans to salvage the ferry from a depth of around 30 meters.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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