Jakarta / Labuan Bajo — Indonesian authorities are coordinating closely with the Spanish Embassy in Jakarta following the sinking of a tourist boat in Komodo National Park, a disaster that has left four Spanish nationals, including a prominent football coach, missing. The incident has also prompted a temporary halt to tourist sailings in the area.
The wooden phinisi vessel, the Putri Sakina, sank in the Padar Strait on Friday night after being struck by waves up to two metres high, causing its engine to fail. The four missing individuals are Valencia CF women’s football coach Fernando Martín Careras and his three children. Seven other people on board, including passengers and crew, were rescued and are reported to be in stable condition.
Government Response and International Coordination
In response to the incident, Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry announced it has intensified its coordination with domestic rescue agencies and Spanish diplomatic officials. Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stated on Sunday that her ministry is working closely with the Spanish Embassy to ensure consular support and to coordinate assistance as the search continues.
“Spanish authorities have conveyed appreciation for the swift response by Indonesian rescue teams,” Wardhana said, adding that both governments are focused on maximising efforts to locate those still missing. The minister also expressed her condolences to the victims’ families.
To manage the on-the-ground response, the ministry has deployed senior staff, including officials from the Labuan Bajo Authority, to directly liaise with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), which is leading the operation.
Search Operations and Precautionary Measures
Under standard procedures, search and rescue efforts in Indonesian waters are set to continue for up to seven days. These operations are subject to daily evaluations based on weather conditions and the safety of rescue personnel at sea.
As a precaution, port authorities under the Transportation Ministry have imposed a temporary suspension on tourist boat operations in and around Labuan Bajo and the Komodo Islands. The ban is effective from 26 December 2025 through 1 January 2026, or until further notice, to ensure safety amidst the ongoing search and potentially hazardous sea conditions.
The Tourism Ministry emphasised its commitment to prioritising visitor safety, strengthening cross-agency coordination, and ensuring the incident is handled “transparently, humanely and with full accountability.”