Authorities close the 15-day rescue operation, but will monitor for signs of the final missing child as tourism activities resume in the area.
LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — Indonesian search and rescue authorities officially concluded the active operation to find the missing son of Spanish football coach Martin Carreras Fernando on Friday, January 9, 2026. The boy remains lost at sea, the sole unrecovered victim of the KM Putri Sakinah sinking that occurred in Komodo National Park waters two weeks prior.
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) closed the operation at 2:20 PM local time, marking the end of a 15-day effort that involved multiple extensions. A formal ceremony attended by local officials and the victims’ family sealed the decision, though officials stated they will maintain a watchful stance.
“On this 15th day, we declare the SAR operation closed,” stated SAR Mission Coordinator Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere Basarnas office.
Search Concludes, Vigilance Continues
Despite the closure of the coordinated, resource-intensive search, authorities indicated they would switch to a state of passive monitoring, relying on the community and returning tourism traffic rather than deploying dedicated teams.
Fathur expressed hope that the reopening of maritime tourism in Labuan Bajo—halted for two weeks due to the search and severe weather—could inadvertently aid in locating the child.
“We continue to monitor for the one [victim] who has not been found,” he explained. “With the reopening of sailings, it is hoped that signs of the victim might be seen and a team can execute an evacuation process.”
The disaster on the night of December 26, 2025, claimed the lives of Fernando and three of his children. The bodies of Fernando, his 12-year-old daughter, and a 10-year-old son were recovered during the prolonged search. Fernando’s wife and youngest child survived the incident.
A Community’s Path Forward
The closure of the SAR operation represents a painful but procedural milestone for the grieving family and for the broader community of Labuan Bajo. The town, economically dependent on tourism to Komodo National Park, has endured a dual crisis: a profound human tragedy followed by a complete shutdown of its primary industry.
As vessels begin returning to the waters around Padar Island, the community now navigates a path toward recovery under a new set of realities. The tragedy has already prompted immediate regulatory changes, including a new ban on night sailing for tourist boats, and has ignited intense local debate over maritime safety and oversight.
For now, the official search has ended, but the absence of one young boy continues to cast a shadow over the gateway to the Komodo dragons, a stark reminder of the human cost behind the headlines of a maritime disaster.
After 15 days at sea, the search is formally closed.
— Hey Bali (@Heybaliinfo) January 9, 2026
Basarnas announces the end of active rescue efforts for the last missing child from the KM Putri Sakinah shipwreck.https://t.co/al5ppKTwYz#Basarnas #Komodo #LabuanBajo #MaritimeSafety #SearchAndRescue #PutriSakinah pic.twitter.com/8bPD29Rw3D
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