January 7, 2026 | 07:28 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A joint search and rescue (SAR) team found the wreckage of the tourist ship KM Putri Sakinah, which sank in the waters of Padar Strait, Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, during the search on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The body of a passenger of KM Putri Sakinah was also found inside.
The victim's body was evacuated using the KN SAR Punta Dewa ship to be taken to Labuan Bajo for further handling. According to the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police, the discovery of the body and the shipwreck occurred in Loh Pede, Komodo Island, Komodo Village, Komodo District, Manggarai Barat Regency, at coordinates 0836'35.139" S - 11940'36.826" E.
"The Chief of Police of East Nusa Tenggara expresses deep condolences to the families of the victims," said Head of Public Relations of the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police Commissioner Henry Novika Chandra in a written statement on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
The discovery of the shipwreck occurred around 14:28 WITA (Central Indonesian Time), when a fisherman from Komodo Island named Saiful saw the shipwreck floating in the waters near Loh Pede. Saiful then pulled the shipwreck towards the shore. Upon reaching the shore, a figure of a body trapped inside the shipwreck was seen.
Subsequently, at 14:49 WITA, a joint SAR team consisting of elements from the police, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), and relevant agencies arrived at the location. The team immediately conducted an examination to ensure the presence of the victim inside the shipwreck. After confirming, the joint SAR team evacuated the body onto the KN SAR Punta Dewa.
The East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police stated that the search and rescue operation would continue to be evaluated according to developments in the field, to ensure that no victims of the sunken ship have not been found. "We pray and strive together for all the victims to be found quickly," said Henry.
In previous searches, the SAR team had found the body identified as the female soccer coach of Valencia CF, Fernando Martin. The search team had also found one of the female victims.
The tourist ship KM Putri Sakinah, which was carrying 11 people, initially embarked on a tour to Kalong Island in the Komodo National Park (KNP) area. After that, the ship continued its journey to Padar Island with an estimated arrival on Saturday morning.
During the journey to Padar Island, the ship experienced engine failure and eventually sank. The maritime accident was estimated to have occurred on Friday around 20:45 WITA.
The incident resulted in the disappearance and drowning of four Spanish nationals who were a family. The four Spanish drowning victims were identified as Fernando Martin, Garcia Mateo Martin, Martines Ortuno Maria Lia, and Martinez Ortuno Enriquejavier.
Meanwhile, two other Spanish nationals who were previously declared safe were Fernando Martin's wife and their child. The other surviving victims were four crew members, including the captain of KM Putri Sakinah, and a tour guide.
Vedro Imanuel Girsang contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: NTT Police Investigate Permits After Tourist Boat Sinking in Labuan Bajo
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
NTT Police Investigate Permits After Tourist Boat Sinking in Labuan Bajo
2 hari lalu
Police are investigating the authorities responsible for granting permits to tourist boats in the Labuan Bajo area following the sinking of KM Putri Sakinah.
Police Identify Body of Valencia CF Women's Coach in NTT
2 hari lalu
Valencia CF coach, Fernando Martin, and his family have become victims of a boat sinking in the waters of Pulau Padar, NTT.
Search Continues for Four Spaniards Missing in Labuan Bajo Boat Sinking
7 hari lalu
Four Spanish tourists who were victims of the sinking of the Putri Sakinah motorboat in the Padar Strait, Labuan Bajo, have not been found yet.
Four Spanish Tourists Missing After Boat Sinks in Komodo National Park
9 hari lalu
A motorboat carrying four Spanish tourists sank in Selat Padar, Komodo National Park, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
Indonesia Welcomes 27 Cruise Ships in Labuan Bajo This Year
27 Oktober 2025
A total of 23,424 tourists on cruise ships have visited Labuan Bajo since the beginning of 2025 until September.
How to Get to Pink Beach: A Tourist Guide to Visit Indonesia's 'Most Beautiful' Spot
19 Agustus 2025
Located in the Komodo National Park, NTT, Pink Beach presents a stretch of captivating pink sandy shores.
Direct Lombok-Labuan Bajo Flights Commence Operations
25 Juli 2025
The Lombok-Labuan Bajo route will operate three times a week, specifically every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
New Flight Route Launches Between Lombok and Labuan Bajo
3 Juli 2025
Flight route Lombok-Labuan Bajo operates three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Most Tourists in Labuan Bajo Choose Live-On-Board Experience
30 April 2025
More than 80 percent of tourists prefer to live on board when visiting Labuan Bajo.
Labuan Bajo to Ban Use of Plastic Bottled Water
13 April 2025
The ban on plastic bottled water usage applies to hotels, restaurants, tourist boats, eateries, and government offices in Labuan Bajo.
