LABUAN BAJO — In a moment marked by dignity rather than despair, Mar Martinez, the wife of Valencia women’s team coach Fernando Martín Carreras, was seen offering personal support to Indonesian search and rescue teams as efforts continued to locate her missing husband and two children in the waters of Komodo National Park.
On Tuesday morning, 30 December 2025, Martinez stood at the harbour in Labuan Bajo as members of the joint SAR operation prepared to depart for another day of searching near Padar Island. Witnesses observed her calmly greeting the personnel one by one, shaking hands and bowing slightly as a gesture of respect before they boarded their vessels.
Family members accompanying Martinez were seen quietly offering comfort as the teams set off. The scene, understated and solemn, reflected both private grief and public gratitude in the face of an ongoing tragedy.
Also present was a representative of the Spanish Embassy in Indonesia, identified as Fernando, who joined the departure to show diplomatic support for the operation. Speaking briefly to the rescue teams, he expressed hope that the fifth day of searching would bring answers.
“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “We sincerely hope today’s efforts will go well.”
The search operation has intensified since the sinking of the tourist vessel KM Putri Sakinah, which capsized in Komodo waters last week. While several passengers survived, Fernando Martín Carreras and two of his children remain unaccounted for.
According to Fathur Rahman, Head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office, a total of 11 professional divers have been deployed as part of the operation. They are divided into three specialised Search and Rescue Units (SRUs), each assigned to different locations based on current patterns and underwater conditions.
SRU 1 is operating in the northern waters of Serai Island, SRU 2 in the eastern waters of Padar Island, and SRU 3 in the southern waters of Serai Island. The divers come from a mix of professional and volunteer organisations, including Sea Creatures, Scuba Republic, Scuba Go, Alexa Phinisi, Azul Komodo, Red Whale, Papiton Dive, as well as trained rescuers from the Maumere SAR Office.
To support underwater operations, the joint SAR team has deployed multiple high-speed sea riders operated by the Indonesian Navy base in Labuan Bajo, the East Nusa Tenggara Water Police, and the local Port Authority. Advanced equipment, including seabob propulsion devices and sonar technology provided by the East Nusa Tenggara Police, is being used to locate the wreckage of KM Putri Sakinah on the seabed.
In addition to dive operations, twelve vessels have been assigned to conduct surface searches, focusing on islands and surrounding waters north of Padar Island. Thermal drones are also being used to scan wider areas that are difficult to reach by boat.
“As of now, the joint search and rescue team continues to work relentlessly in carrying out the operation,” Fathur Rahman said, adding that efforts remain ongoing despite challenging conditions.
As the search enters another critical phase, the presence of Martinez at the harbour has become a quiet symbol of resilience. Her gestures, simple and restrained, underscore the human weight behind an operation that has drawn national and international attention — a reminder that beyond the logistics and technology, the mission remains rooted in hope, solidarity, and the search for loved ones lost at sea.
