Virgo Transport 8 Incident: Part Of Banjarmasin Port Becomes Emergency Coordination Centre

JAKARTA, Sept 13 (NNN) -- Indonesian authorities have turned part of Trisakti Port in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, into an emergency coordination and reception centre following the Virgo Transport 8 incident in the Java Sea, according to local media reports.

Banjarmasin Class I Harbourmaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) chief Heri Purwanto said the emergency post serves as a coordination centre for the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), port operator Pelindo, navigation authorities, the agent of the ship, and families of those on board.

Meanwhile, Pelindo Banjarmasin General Manager Ari Sudarono said the port operator has also prepared a medical examination room equipped with camp beds to support the agencies involved in the operation.

“We are assisting the relevant agencies by providing search post facilities that can be used to support coordination and operational needs,” he was quoted as saying by Indonesia's national news agency, Antara.

Basarnas earlier said 103 of the 243 people aboard the ship had been evacuated as of noon Sunday, with one person reported dead, while search efforts continued for those still unaccounted for.

The passenger ship had departed Surabaya in East Java for Banjarmasin on Saturday before communication with it was lost at about 2 am Sunday in bad weather in the Java Sea. Basarnas was alerted of the incident at 4.10 am. The last known position of the ship was about 80 nautical miles from the SAR base in Banjarmasin.

Local media, citing a Pelindo official, reported that the ship had developed a leak in bad weather before capsizing and subsequently sinking, although Basarnas has yet to confirm its condition.

Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said it had received no information so far indicating that any Malaysian nationals were involved, while the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta remained in contact with Indonesian authorities to verify the passenger list and obtain further information.

Meanwhile, volunteer ambulance coordinator Gapuri said about 30 ambulances had been placed on standby at Trisakti Port following instructions from Basarnas to help government ambulances cope with those evacuated from the ship, as some were reported to require medical treatment.

He said the volunteer ambulances were equipped with oxygen, stretchers, latex gloves, and masks to provide initial assistance to victims before they receive further treatment at health facilities.

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