Coffin Arrives Just Before Wedding Ceremony, Deep Grief Envelops Family of KM Virgo Victim in Klaten

KLATEN, KOMPAS.com - Tears erupted as the body of Bagus Mahendra (21), one of the victims of KM Virgo Transport 8, arrived at the family home in Dukuh Sidorejo, Lumbungkerep Village, Wonosari District, Klaten, Central Java, on Wednesday afternoon (9/23/2026).

The ambulance carrying Bagus’s coffin reached the family home at around 12:00 PM Western Indonesian Time. The coffin was then taken out and placed inside the house for mourning.

Bagus’s body was prayed over and given funeral rites by mourners before it was taken to its final resting place at the local village cemetery.

The victim’s uncle, Hartanto, said Bagus was buried next to his grandfather’s grave.

“(Bagus) was buried beside his grandfather,” Hartanto said in Klaten, Central Java, on Wednesday.

Bagus was known as a well-behaved son. For just two years, right after graduating from vocational school, he had accompanied his older brother, Danang Yuliyanto, on inter-island delivery jobs.

“He just graduated recently, from vocational school. It’s only been two years (he’s been helping with deliveries),” Hartanto explained.

According to Hartanto, Bagus was often invited by his brother Danang to join him on deliveries to other islands.

“(Delivering to Kalimantan) happened often, but he was always invited by Danang. Sort of like a helper,” Hartanto revealed.

The family was deeply shattered hearing of Bagus’s death, especially because his body was found just one day before the wedding of his elder sister, Ayuk Murtanti (27).

Hartanto said that Ayuk cried during the solemnization ceremony (ijab kabul) at the Religious Affairs Office (KUA).

Originally, the witnesses for Ayuk’s wedding ceremony were to be her brothers Danang and Bagus. But since Bagus died in the KM Virgo accident, his role as witness was replaced by his nephew.

“She just cried. Maybe overwhelmed. Because her witnesses were her brothers, Danang and Bagus. Since Bagus wasn’t there, the witness was replaced,” Hartanto said.

It was reported that Bagus’s body was flown from Banjarmasin to the family home on Wednesday morning. He arrived at Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang before being transported by ambulance to Klaten, Central Java.