BANJARMASIN (TABIRkota) – A Rigid Buoyancy Boat (RBB) from the Banjarmasin Naval Base (Lanal Banjarmasin), South Kalimantan, successfully evacuated 22 survivors from the KM Virgo Transport 8—who had been aboard the KRI Nala—to Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, on Tuesday (Sept 15) at approximately 10:00 WITA.
The Head of the Banjarmasin Class A Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), I Putu Sudayana—acting as the SAR Mission Coordinator—stated that the operation to transfer the survivors from the KRI Nala was briefly delayed due to bad weather and high waves.
"From the KRI Nala, the survivors were safely transferred and subsequently transported to Trisakti Port, Banjarmasin, using the Banjarmasin Naval Base RBB," he said at the Trisakti Port Command Post on Tuesday (Sept 15).
Due to the KRI Nala’s large size and tonnage, it was not possible for the warship to dock directly at the Trisakti Port pier; consequently, a transfer process using smaller vessels was required.
According to Sudayana, the transfer of the survivors was carried out in stages across two sorties (round trips).
"In the first sortie, the Banjarmasin Naval Base RBB transported 16 survivors, while the remaining six were transported in the second sortie," he said.
He noted that the 16 survivors transported in the first sortie were all male, whereas the six survivors transported in the second sortie consisted of five men and one woman.
"All survivors immediately underwent medical examinations and received initial medical care to assess their health status following the evacuation process," he stated.
The transfer of survivors from the KRI Nala to the Banjarmasin Naval Base’s Rigid Buoyancy Boat (RBB) was originally scheduled for Monday (Sept 14); however, rough seas and high waves in the Tabunio waters, combined with the late hour, compelled the team to prioritize the safety of the survivors and the Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel.
Earlier, the KM Virgo Transport 8—carrying 243 passengers—was reported to have lost contact in the Java Sea early Sunday (Sept 13), around 02:00 WITA, while en route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, having departed on Saturday (Sept 12).
Of the 243 persons on board (POB) recorded, 114 victims had been located by Tuesday (Sept 15); this figure comprises 108 survivors and two deceased victims who have already been brought ashore, while the recovery of four other deceased victims via air transport is currently underway. (ra)
