Indonesia ferry death toll rises to 26; 109 remain missing

Asia · Rescue operation · 2026.09.23 · 08:16 UTC

Indonesia's national rescue agency said on September 23 that the confirmed death toll from the Virgo Transport 8 ferry disaster had risen to 26, with 109 people still missing and 108 survivors. Divers are concentrating on the cabins, and the operation has been extended until next Sunday.

Full report

Virgo Transport 8 capsized in bad weather early on September 13 while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Official information lists 243 people aboard, including 30 crew members; 108 survivors have been confirmed.

National Search and Rescue Agency chief Mohammad Syafii said 14 bodies had been recovered from inside the vessel over three days and two more washed ashore in Central Kalimantan about 253 kilometres from the accident site. The confirmed toll rose to 26 and the missing count fell to 109.

Banjarmasin rescue chief I Putu Sudayana said divers broke cabin windows on Tuesday but murky water and strong currents prevented safe entry. Cabins remain the priority, followed by the vehicle area only if conditions permit because vehicles are piled on top of one another.

The search has been extended until next Sunday, while work to right the vessel continues. The cause remains under investigation; N Globe does not present any factor beyond the reported bad weather as a final cause.

Verification status: corrected/updated. News value: S. Origin region: Asia (Indonesia). Primary section: Security. Related regions: Asia and worldwide. Source time: September 23, 2026, 04:55 UTC. Update date: September 23, 2026.

This report is an original summary based on verified sources, not a verbatim reproduction.