Guntur Aji Pangestu, a 27-year-old resident of Jebres, Solo, who went missing during the sinking of the passenger vessel KM Virgo Transport 8, has been found dead. His body is currently held at RS Bhayangkara in Banjarmasin following a positive DNA match.
Recovery and Identification at RS Bhayangkara
Local authorities confirmed the recovery on Monday, September 28, 2026. Jebres Lurah Rennyta Ina Wijaya stated that the victim’s identity was established through an antemortem process and DNA cross-matching conducted by disaster victim identification teams. “Thank God, Guntur has been found, but yes, he has passed away,” Rennyta said. The recovery comes as search and rescue efforts reach their sixteenth day in the Java Sea.
Manifest Discrepancy and Twin Identification
Initial identification efforts faced complications after rescue workers discovered that Guntur had boarded KM Virgo Transport 8 using the identity card of his twin brother, Guruh Aji Pangestu. The substitution caused Guruh’s name to appear on the official passenger manifest rather than Guntur’s. Officials later resolved the discrepancy through family DNA testing, confirming that the recovered victim is indeed Guntur Aji Pangestu, while local officials coordinate with the family regarding funeral arrangements and the eventual repatriation of the body to Solo.
Victims Identified in the Search Operation
The identification of Guntur coincides with a broader update from the Disaster Victim Identification team of the South Kalimantan Regional Police and the National Police headquarters. Authorities announced that 16 additional bodies were identified during the sixteenth day of operations, bringing the total number of identified victims from the KM Virgo Transport 8 disaster to 41.
The newly identified victims include:
- Tri Sutrisno (30), Kediri, East Java
- Riski Ananta Agusena (23), Kudus, Central Java
- Guntur Aji Pangestu (27), Kudus, Central Java
- Triyono Basuki (45), Surabaya, East Java
- Tihwin Nuryanto (43), Madiun, East Java
- Sugiatno (41), Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan
- Ilham Muhammad Rozzaq (21), Jepara, Central Java
- Yuli Purwanto (47), Tulungagung, East Java
- Muhammad Kholis (52), Surabaya, East Java
- Surono (38), Jombang, East Java
- Muhammad Adam Assegaf (19), Kudus, Central Java
- Susanto (36), Blitar, East Java
- Maulana Purwo Wibowo (19), Cilacap, Central Java
- Wati (48), Pangandaran, West Java
- Yaya Carya (58), Cirebon, West Java
- Bambang Setya Budi (56), Malang, East Java
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