Four Spanish Nationals Missing After Tourist Boat Sinks Near Labuan Bajo

Jakarta: Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism has intensified coordination with national rescue agencies and the Spanish Embassy following the sinking of a tourist boat off Labuan Bajo, eastern Indonesia, which left four Spanish nationals missing and prompted a temporary suspension of tourist sailings.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said on Sunday that her ministry has been working closely with the Spanish Embassy to ensure consular assistance and coordinated support as search and rescue operations continue near Padar Island.

According to Widiyanti, Spanish authorities have expressed appreciation for the swift response by Indonesian rescue teams, while both sides remain focused on maximizing efforts to locate the four individuals still unaccounted for.

The wooden phinisi tourist boat Putri Sakina sank in the Padar Strait after being hit by waves reaching up to two meters, which caused engine failure, officials said. Four Spanish tourists — identified as Valencia CF women’s football coach Fernando Martín Careras and his three children — remain missing.

Seven people, including passengers and crew members, were rescued from the vessel and are reported to be in stable condition.

Widiyanti conveyed condolences to the families of the victims and said the ministry has deployed senior officials to oversee coordination and ensure clear communication among all agencies involved.

She said expert staff from the ministry and officials from the Labuan Bajo Authority have been sent to the area to liaise directly with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), which is leading the operation.

Under standard operating procedures, search and rescue efforts will continue for up to seven days, with daily evaluations based on weather conditions and the safety of personnel at sea.

As a precautionary measure, port authorities under the Ministry of Transportation have imposed a temporary ban on tourist boat operations in Labuan Bajo and the Komodo Islands from December 26 through January 1, 2026, or until further notice.

The Tourism Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing visitor safety, strengthening cross-agency coordination, and ensuring the incident is handled transparently, humanely, and with full accountability.