KOMODO NATIONAL PARK, Indonesia — As dawn broke over the rugged waters off Pulau Padar on Sunday, Indonesian authorities entered the third day of an intensive search for Fernando Martín Carreras, a coach with Valencia CF Women’s B team, and three of his children, who remain missing after a tourist vessel sank in the Komodo archipelago late last week.
The Ministry of Transportation confirmed it had expanded its maritime response, deploying four additional vessels to reinforce the joint search and rescue operation in one of Indonesia’s most challenging marine environments. The move underscores the seriousness of the effort as hopes persist among family members and rescuers alike.
Among the ships dispatched was the state patrol vessel KNP Grantin, joined by a KSOP patrol speedboat, a KSOP Rigid Buoyancy Boat, and a KPLP Rigid Inflatable Boat. In total, 23 personnel were assigned to the ministry’s deployment, according to Stephanus Risdiyanto, head of the Labuan Bajo Port Authority and Harbor Master’s Office.
“These vessels are not only searching,” Stephanus said while aboard KNP Grantin near Pulau Padar. “They are also carrying logistical supplies for SAR teams who have been stationed on the island for days, working around the clock.”The following report is adapted from Detik.com.
The search operation is being supported by a broad coalition of agencies. Naval personnel from Lanal Labuan Bajo, police maritime units from Manggarai Barat, and professional civilian divers have joined the effort. Six experienced divers from local associations, including P3Kom, DOCK, and Gahawisri, were deployed to assist underwater searches in areas where strong currents and uneven seabeds complicate visibility.
Basarnas, Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, continues to coordinate the mission. Fathur Rahman, head of Basarnas Maumere and the designated SAR Mission Coordinator, said search teams have expanded the sweep radius to more than five nautical miles from the original incident site.
“This is the third day of operations,” Fathur said. “All SAR elements are working continuously, and we remain committed to finding the missing victims.”
The tragedy began Friday night when the semi-phinisi tourist vessel Putri Sakinah encountered mechanical failure roughly 30 minutes after departing from Komodo Island en route to Pulau Padar. Stranded at sea, the boat was struck by powerful waves and sank in the narrow strait separating the islands.
Eleven people were aboard the vessel: six members of one Spanish family, four crew members, and a local tour guide. Seven survived, including Carreras’s wife and one of their daughters, who were rescued later that night. Carreras and three of his children — two boys and one girl — are still unaccounted for.
Those missing have been identified as Fernando Martín Carreras, along with his children Martines Ortuno Maria Lia, Martin Garcia Mateo, and Martinez Ortuno Enriquejavier. Survivors include his wife, Mar Martinez Ortuno, and their daughter, Andrea Ortuno. All crew members, including the captain and three deckhands, as well as the tour guide, were rescued safely.
As search vessels continue to cut through the waters of Komodo National Park, the incident has cast a somber shadow over what is typically seen as one of Indonesia’s most spectacular travel destinations. For now, the focus remains on the sea — and on the hope that answers may still emerge from it.
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