The official search for the missing Valencia CF coach and his two sons will continue for three more days, Indonesian authorities announced Thursday, extending the operation beyond its statutory deadline as the family arrived to witness the challenging conditions firsthand. As reported by Detik.com, the decision follows a formal request from the Spanish Ambassador and a late-night evaluation by search commanders.
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) confirmed the extension, authorizing the joint SAR task force to continue its efforts from January 2 through January 4, 2026. The search for coach Martin Carreras Fernando and his young sons had reached its standard seven-day limit on New Year’s Day without locating the missing individuals.
Fathur Rahman, the SAR Mission Coordinator, stated the extension was based on a comprehensive evaluation and considered the written appeal from the Spanish Ambassador on December 31. “We remain optimistic that the hard work of the entire joint SAR team can yield results during this extension period,” Mr. Rahman said.
On Thursday, the family’s ordeal took a visceral turn as close relatives and the Spanish Deputy Ambassador were escorted by police boat to the Padar Island strait—the site of the December 26 sinking. There, they observed the volatile “weather anomaly” that characterizes the area, where calm waters can suddenly give way to strong currents and swells, even when official maritime forecasts predict low waves.
“The water here wasn’t wavy, then suddenly we encountered waves,” explained Budi Widjaja, a local tourism liaison accompanying the family, describing the unpredictable conditions that may have contributed to the Putri Sakinah disaster.
While the coach’s wife was absent—accompanying their deceased daughter’s body to Bali—her brother, uncle, and the diplomat joined the grim vigil on the water. The seventh day of searching involved 13 vessels and specialized sonar equipment but concluded without new findings.
The three-day extension represents a confluence of procedural protocol, diplomatic pressure, and undiminished hope. It allows for a continued, maximized effort in an environment that continues to both challenge rescuers and haunt a grieving family with its capricious nature.
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