Indonesian police have opened an investigation to determine whether a crime was committed and whether negligence could have occurred when a tourist boat sank last Friday with a family of six Spaniards on board: Three people are still missing after eight days of searching, a girl was found dead and two other people were rescued.
The investigation began on Wednesday and is being carried out by the Manggarai Oriental police station, in the tourist town of Labuan Bajo – gateway to Komodo National Park – and from which part of the search operations are coordinated.
“Investigators will interview witnesses, the ship’s crew and the operator, and will carry out a thorough investigation on the seaworthiness of the vessel and compliance with maritime safety procedures”, indicates a press release from the police, which is seeking to determine whether “negligence” was committed.
A possible engine failure
The KM Putri Sakinah tourist boat sank in the waters of Padar Island around 8:30 p.m. Friday local time (1:30 p.m. Spanish Peninsula time), after which a search with boats was activated. Of the 11 passengers traveling on the boat, seven (two Spaniards, four crew members and a guide – these Indonesians -) were rescued and search teams recovered the lifeless body of the minor belonging to the Spanish family on Monday.
The three Spaniards who remained without being located are Fernando Martín, former footballer and coach of the Valencia CF women’s B team; and two minors: a son of Martín and a son of Andrea Ortuño, one of the survivors of the shipwreck and mother of both another minor saved as the deceased discovered three days ago. The two adults recently got married.
A first report indicated possible engine failure which left the ship at the mercy of the waves. Port authorities said the ship capsized after the sudden onslaught of three large waves, up to 2.5 meters above sea level, due to a “rare phenomenon”, while sailing in a strait with strong underwater currents.
“The Indonesian National Police is committed to handling every maritime accident with professionalism, transparency and accountability. The investigation is carried out to objectively clarify the facts and determine whether there was negligence or criminal conduct in this incident,” said Henry Novika Chandra, public relations chief of the East Nusa Tenggara province regional police, in the statement.
Between 2024 and the end of 2025, at least 15 tourist boat accidents have been recorded in the region. Mostly in the waters of the islands of Padar, Komodo and Rinca (which make up Komodo National Park), “due to the bad weather or technical problems boats”, emphasize the officers. The police urged all tour operators to “always” prioritize navigation safety and respect safety standards, as well as knowing the weather reports of the area where they will sail.
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