LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — In a moment of profound grace amidst enduring sorrow, family members of the victims of the KM Putri Sakinah shipwreck expressed their heartfelt gratitude to rescue personnel, even as the official search for their youngest son was formally closed.
The emotional scene unfolded during the ceremonial conclusion of the 15-day Search and Rescue (SAR) operation on Friday, January 9, 2026. While the outcome was marked by the unresolved absence of one child, the family’s public acknowledgment focused on the relentless efforts of those who tried.
In a video from the ceremony, a family representative addressed the gathered teams from Basarnas (the National Search and Rescue Agency), the military, police, and other agencies. Their words, translated from Spanish, thanked the hundreds of personnel for their exhaustive work under challenging conditions over more than two weeks.
The search, which followed the sinking of the pinisi schooner on December 26, successfully recovered three victims: Spanish football coach Martin Carreras Fernando, his 12-year-old daughter, and a 10-year-old son. The operation was extended three times in the hope of finding the youngest boy, but was ultimately concluded after scouring sea and shoreline.
The family’s public thanks highlight a complex layer of the tragedy. It underscores a recognition of the human endeavor and national resources committed to the mission, even as it concludes without the full closure they desperately sought.
The ceremony, attended by local officials and rescue coordinators, signed an administrative end to one of Indonesia’s most closely watched maritime rescue efforts. As the family now turns from public hope to private grief, their gratitude serves as a poignant coda to an operation defined by both dedication and loss.
A moment of grace in deep sorrow. At the closing ceremony of the 15-day search in Komodo, the family of the Valencia CF coach thanked hundreds of Indonesian rescue personnel.#LabuanBajo #Komodo #Basarnas #SearchAndRescue #MaritimeSafety #Indonesia #Humanity #ValenciaCF pic.twitter.com/Whe5D5JJCS
— Hey Bali (@Heybaliinfo) January 9, 2026
