KSOP Explains the Chronology of the Cause of the Tourist Boat Drowning in Labuan Bajo

JAKARTA - The Class III Labuan Bajo City Hall and Port Authority (KSOP) stated that the cause of the tourist ship that sank in the waters of Padar Island, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Friday, December 26, was hit by high waves.

"The height of the waves that occur in the field is a swell or high wave that comes suddenly between 2-3 meters and occurs in a short period, only half to one hour, so that it makes it difficult for us to conduct an initial search, because the waves are high," said Head of KSOP Class III, Stephanus Risdiyanto in Labuan Bajo, Saturday, quoted by Antara.

He added that the semi-pinisi type tourist ship named KM Putri Sakinah which experienced engine failure and sank carried as many as 11 passengers.

The dozen victims consisted of seven foreign tourists of Spanish nationality, four crew members and one tour guide.

The tourist ship had previously made a tourist trip to Kalong Island, Komodo National Park (TNK). After enjoying the tourist spot, they then moved to Padar Island to later do trekking on Padar Island on Saturday morning, but unfortunately experienced a disaster during the trip to Padar Island.

"We have carried out an evacuation and managed to save seven people, consisting of four crew members, a guide and two passengers, then the four passengers who have not been found," he said.

He explained that during the search for the victims, the joint SAR team conducted a search of approximately 1 nautical mile for 3 hours, but did not find any other victims.

The search on the second day, he continued, deployed as many as 40 personnel consisting of KSOP Labuan Bajo, Basarnas, Baharkam Mabes Polri, Ditpolairud Polda NTT, Polairud Polres Manggarai Barat, Lanal Labuan Bajo, as well as maritime potential from the association of ship owners and diving teams from the Komodo Professional Divers Association (P3KOM).

"There are about seven main tools (alut) with almost 40 personnel that we deployed to the field," he said.

Furthermore, if there is an escalation of the weather that worsens during the search for the victims in the field, the post belonging to the Komodo National Park (TNK) on Padar Island will be used as a shelter or place to stay for the joint SAR team.

Previously, the joint Search And Rescue (SAR) Team managed to evacuate seven out 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, December 26 night.

"The joint SAR team after receiving information immediately headed to the location using the RIB of the West Manggarai SAR Post," said the Head of the Maumere Basarnas Office, Fathur Rahman, when contacted.

Two survivors are foreign tourists from Spain. 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 others were evacuated by the joint SAR team," he said.

The identity of the Spanish tourists who are still being searched by the joint SAR Team is Martin Carreras Fernando, Martin Garcia Mateo, Martines Ortuno Maria Lia, and Martinez Ortuno Enriquejavier.