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Four Missing After Tourist Boat Sinks Off Indonesia’s Padar Island as Search Effort Presses On

High waves up to three meters are slowing rescue efforts in the Komodo area.

Overview

  • The tourist vessel KM Putri Sakinah sank Friday night near Padar Island close to Labuan Bajo with 11 people aboard, and seven were rescued.
  • Those unaccounted for are Spanish coach Fernando Martín and three of his children, while his wife Andrea and their youngest daughter were among the survivors.
  • Search teams reported finding debris and pieces of the hull near the suspected sinking site, with operations continuing under difficult weather conditions.
  • The Labuan Bajo port authority attributed the accident to powerful seas with waves reaching about three meters, which also hampered initial rescue work.
  • Authorities temporarily closed Padar and Komodo to visitors, and Spain’s embassy is in contact with survivors and family members as the search continues.