LABUAN BAJO — A wooden pinisi vessel named Dewi Anjani sank on Monday morning in the waters near Labuan Bajo’s Pink Pier, adding to growing concerns about maritime safety in one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations.
The incident occurred in waters off Bukit Pramuka, not far from the Marina Waterfront Port, a central hub for tourist boats departing to Komodo National Park. Video footage obtained by Detik showed the vessel listing sharply before most of its hull slipped beneath the surface.
In the footage, the boat appears heavily tilted, with seawater already flooding the deck before it finally sank. A local resident who recorded the video confirmed the location of the incident.
“The Dewi Anjani sank in front of Pink Pier,” the resident said, as quoted by Detik.
Indonesia’s Port Authority and Harbor Master Office (KSOP) Class III Labuan Bajo confirmed the sinking, stating that the vessel was not underway at the time of the incident.
“The boat was parked,” Slamet, a KSOP Labuan Bajo official, said, indicating that the vessel was moored when it went down.
As of Monday afternoon, authorities had not yet determined the cause of the sinking. There was also no immediate confirmation of casualties, and officials said further verification was underway to establish whether anyone was on board at the time.
The incident unfolded amid heavy rainfall that had been drenching Labuan Bajo since early morning, conditions that may have complicated initial assessments at the scene.
The sinking of Dewi Anjani comes just days after a far more serious maritime tragedy in the same region. On Friday night, the tourist pinisi Putri Sakinah sank in rough seas in the waters of Padar Strait, resulting in the disappearance of four passengers, all members of a Spanish family.
Among those still missing are Martin Carreras Fernando, a coach with Valencia CF’s women’s B team, and three of his children. Search and rescue operations for that incident remain ongoing.
On Monday, officials from KSOP and other maritime agencies were seen in discussions with East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Inspector General Rudi Darmoko at the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) command post at Marina Waterfront Port. According to Detik, the talks focused primarily on the continuing search efforts for the victims of the Putri Sakinah disaster.
The close succession of incidents has intensified scrutiny of marine tourism operations in Labuan Bajo, a gateway town whose economy depends heavily on boat-based excursions to Komodo National Park. While pinisi vessels are an iconic part of Indonesia’s maritime heritage, recent accidents have raised questions about vessel maintenance, weather preparedness, and port oversight.
For many travelers and expatriates living in Bali and eastern Indonesia, Labuan Bajo represents both adventure and risk. The waters around Komodo are known for strong currents and rapidly changing weather, particularly during the monsoon season.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation while investigations are ongoing. Maritime officials said further information regarding the Dewi Anjani would be released once inspections and interviews are completed.
As Labuan Bajo continues to draw visitors from around the world, the latest sinking underscores a sobering reality: in one of Indonesia’s most breathtaking destinations, the margin between leisure and danger at sea can be perilously thin.
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