{"id":6240,"date":"2026-04-01T00:32:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:32:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/?p=6240"},"modified":"2026-04-01T00:32:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:32:53","slug":"komodo-boat-tragedy-valencia-coach-raised-safety-concerns-before-fatal-sinking-court-testimony-reveals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/komodo-boat-tragedy-valencia-coach-raised-safety-concerns-before-fatal-sinking-court-testimony-reveals\/","title":{"rendered":"Komodo Boat Tragedy: Valencia Coach Raised Safety Concerns Before Fatal Sinking, Court Testimony Reveals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia \u2014<\/strong>Before the voyage began, there were doubts. They were quiet at first\u2014questions about the condition of a boat, a hesitation at the dock, a sense that something did not match what had been promised. But like many travelers in unfamiliar places, the family chose to trust the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Days later, that decision would end in tragedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New testimony in the ongoing trial over the sinking of the KM Putri Sakinah<\/em> has revealed that Fernando Martin Carreras<\/a><\/strong>, a Valencia women\u2019s football coach who later died in the incident along with three of his children, had raised concerns about the vessel before boarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Boat That Didn\u2019t Match Expectations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to his wife, Andrea Ortu\u00f1o Ripoll\u2014who survived the sinking with their youngest child\u2014the family noticed discrepancies immediately upon arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vessel, she told the court, appeared to be in worse condition than what had been advertised online through a Labuan Bajo-based travel agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe said the boat in reality looked worse than in the photos,\u201d Andrea testified via video link from Spain, speaking through a court-appointed interpreter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a moment that, in hindsight, now carries weight.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Photo
Photo of the Putri Sakinah Ship at Labuan Bajo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Trust Over Doubt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite their concerns, the family proceeded with the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrea said they ultimately trusted that, while the appearance of the vessel raised questions, its essential safety systems\u2014its engine, its structure\u2014would meet basic standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That trust was not uncommon. In Labuan Bajo, where tourism has expanded rapidly in recent years, visitors often rely heavily on tour operators to ensure both experience and safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the testimony suggests a gap between expectation and reality\u2014one that may have gone unchallenged until it was too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Safety Briefing, No Warning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the journey began on the afternoon of December 26, 2025, the family departed from Marina Labuan Bajo, heading toward the familiar tourist route of Kalong Island and Padar Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What they did not receive, Andrea told the court, was any formal safety briefing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No explanation of emergency procedures.
No instructions on safety equipment.
No information about weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, she recalled being told to move quickly\u2014so the group could arrive early at Padar Island for a planned sunrise trek the following morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pace of the itinerary, she suggested, took precedence over preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Photo
Photo of the Putri Sakinah shipwreck found on December 6, 2026 in Komodo (Heybali)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Life Jackets That Raised Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The issue of safety equipment emerged again before departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrea and her family were asked to wear life jackets\u2014but only briefly, during a short transfer by small boat from the marina to the main vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even then, she said, the equipment raised concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The life jackets appeared undersized and poorly maintained. When the family questioned their condition, they were reassured that it would not matter\u2014they would only need them for a couple of minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once aboard the main vessel, Andrea said, no further instruction was given, and life jackets were no longer required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Sunset to Disaster<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The trip initially followed a familiar rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The family enjoyed the sunset at Kalong Island, one of the region\u2019s most popular stops. Hours later, however, the situation changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That night, in the waters near Padar Island, the KM Putri Sakinah<\/em> was struck by strong waves and sank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrea survived. Her husband and three children did not.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Video
Video Screenshot 2 hours before the sinking of the Putri Sakinah ship in Komodo waters, December 26, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A Trial That Raises Broader Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The case is now being examined in court, where two defendants\u2014the ship\u2019s captain, Lukman, and a crew member, Muhamad Alif Latifa N. Djudje\u2014face charges related to negligence resulting in death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside Andrea\u2019s testimony, the court has heard from a range of witnesses, including maritime authorities, weather officials, and crew members, as it attempts to reconstruct the chain of events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But beyond individual responsibility, the case is exposing deeper structural issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A System Under Pressure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Labuan Bajo has been positioned as one of Indonesia\u2019s flagship tourism destinations\u2014a gateway to the Komodo National Park and a symbol of the country\u2019s global tourism ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet rapid growth often brings uneven oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For international visitors, the tragedy raises uncomfortable but necessary questions:
How closely are operators regulated?
How accurately are services represented online?
And when concerns are raised before departure, who is responsible for addressing them?<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Photo:
Photo: The evacuation process for passengers on a tourist boat that sank in the waters off Padar Island, Komodo National Park, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Friday (December 26, 2025) evening. (Photo: Maumere SAR Document) The evacuation process for passengers on a tourist boat that sank in the waters off Padar Island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Weight of What Was Known<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In court, Andrea\u2019s testimony did not rely on speculation. It focused on what was seen, what was said, and what was missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A boat that did not match its advertisement.
Safety concerns voiced\u2014but not acted upon.
A journey that began with doubt\u2014and ended in loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answers, ultimately, will be determined in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the questions now extend far beyond it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia \u2014Before the voyage began, there were doubts. They were quiet at first\u2014questions about the condition of a boat, a hesitation at the dock, a sense that something did not match what had been promised. But like many travelers in unfamiliar places, the family chose to trust the system. Days later, that decision […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_override_bookmark_settings":[],"jnews_food_recipe":[],"enable_food_recipe":"","food_recipe_title":"","food_recipe_description":"","food_recipe_serve":"","food_recipe_time":"","food_recipe_prep":"","food_recipe_level":"","food_recipe_keywords":"","food_recipe_category":"","food_recipe_cuisine":"","food_recipe_yield":"","food_recipe_calories":"","enable_print_recipe":"","ingredient":[],"instruction":"","jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_review":[],"enable_review":"","type":"","name":"","summary":"","brand":"","sku":"","good":[],"bad":[],"score_override":"","override_value":"","rating":[],"price":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"jnews_post_split":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[76,51,61],"tags":[47,106,146,82,516,77,62,527,190,433,594,522,54,373,519,517],"class_list":["post-6240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","category-bali-update","category-global-impacts","tag-bali","tag-bali-expat","tag-bali-life","tag-bali-tourism","tag-fernando-martin-carreras","tag-indonesia","tag-international","tag-komodo-boat","tag-komodo-island","tag-labuan-bajo","tag-labuan-bajo-tourism","tag-mar-martinez-ortuno","tag-news","tag-sink","tag-spain","tag-valencia"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}