A Spanish father and his three children are missing after a tourist vessel carrying eleven people sank in Indonesian waters near Komodo Island.
Search Suspended Amidst Poor Conditions
The boat, which was carrying a Spanish family of six, four crew members, and a local guide, went down on Friday evening. Officials confirmed the incident occurred after the craft suffered engine failure during a trip from the famous Komodo Island.
Fathur Rahman, from the search and rescue team, stated that three individuals were initially rescued by a passing vessel. A further four were later picked up by the official search team. The survivors include the Spanish mother and one of the family's daughters.
The father, two sons, and another daughter remain missing. The extensive search operation was forced to halt on Saturday evening due to deteriorating weather and poor visibility. Authorities plan to resume the mission early on Sunday.
Dangerous Waters for Tourism
Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a major draw for thousands of international visitors each year, offering world-class diving, trekking, and wildlife tours to see the iconic Komodo dragons.
‘Our teams have been combing the northern waters of Padar Island until dusk,’ Rahman said, adding, ‘We are determined to find the victims.’
This tragic event echoes a similar maritime incident in January 2023, when a boat capsized near Bali's Nusa Penida island. In that case, dozens of tourists were left stranded in the water as their vessel sank.
A Pattern of Incidents
The earlier 2023 incident involved the Kebo Iwa Express, which sprang a leak and sank approximately two nautical miles from its destination in Sanur. Passengers were seen wearing lifejackets and leaping into the sea as the boat overturned.
These consecutive accidents highlight the potential risks associated with marine tourism in Indonesia's popular but sometimes treacherous waters, raising questions about safety protocols for tour operators.
