Death toll reaches 42 after vessel sinks in Indonesia’s Java Sea

The death toll from the sinking of the KM Virgo Transport 8 in Indonesia's Java Sea has risen to 42 after search and rescue teams recovered 14 more bodies from inside the vessel, media reports said Thursday.

The victims were retrieved during diving operations inside the wreckage, state-run Antara News Agency reported, citing Mohammad Syafii, the head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (SAR), or Basarnas.

“The joint SAR team's efforts have once again yielded results,” said Syafii.

He said divers from the Basarnas Special Group, the Indonesian Navy and other search and rescue units recovered all 14 bodies from inside the ship.

The bodies were initially transferred to the KN SAR Pacitan search and rescue vessel for emergency handling before being flown to Banjarmasin.

A Basarnas HR-3604 helicopter and an Indonesian Navy Panther helicopter were used to transport the victims, according to the Antara News Agency.

Upon arrival in Banjarmasin, the bodies were handed to the Disaster Victim Identification team and authorities for medical identification and additional procedures.

As of Thursday, authorities had found 150 people from the vessel's passenger manifest.

Of them, 108 survived, while 42 were confirmed dead.

Search and rescue operations are continuing for 93 people who are missing, according to the latest figures.