SAR Team Evacuates 7 Victims of a Tourist Boat that Sank in Labuan Bajo

LABUAN BAJO - A joint Search And Rescue (SAR) team managed to evacuate seven of a total of 11 victims of a tourist boat that sank in the waters of Padar Island, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Friday (26/12) evening.

"The joint SAR team, after receiving information, immediately headed to the location using the RIB of the West Manggarai SAR Post," said Head of the Maumere Basarnas Office Fathur Rahman, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, December 27.

The two survivors are foreign tourists with Spanish nationality. Meanwhile, the other survivors are a tour guide and four crew members.

"A total of three passengers were evacuated by the Nepton ship which passed from Labuan Bajo to Padar Island and four people were evacuated by the joint SAR team," he said.

Meanwhile, the joint SAR team is still searching for the other four victims. The four victims are also foreign tourists with Spanish nationality.

"The joint SAR team has headed to the scene to carry out a search for the victims," he said.

The chronology of the incident began when the tourist ship KM Putri Sakinah carrying 11 passengers departed from Komodo Island to Padar Island to continue the tourist trip at 20.00 Wita.

However, at 20.30 Wita, the ship experienced engine failure and sank.