Demand for the Valencia Coach Tourist Ship Tragedy to be Investigated in Depth, DPR: Reveal Without Anything Being Covered Up

The SAR team evacuated the body of a victim who drowned in the KM Putri Sakinah tourist boat in the Strait waters, Komodo National Park area, Labuan Bajo, NTT, Sunday, January 4, 2026. (ANTARA FOTO-Gecio Viana)

Member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dipo Nusantara, appreciates the performance of the SAR Team which has found three victims of the Putri Sakinah tourist boat accident which sank in the waters of Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, at the end of December 2025.

However, Dipo urged that the tragedy that killed Valencia coach Martin Carreras Fernando, along with his two children, be thoroughly investigated until the responsible parties are found.

"This incident hit us all, especially the security and comfort of foreign tourists in East Nusa Tenggara. In NTT, there are many tourist attractions that are projected to become international tourist destinations. Starting from Labuan Bajo and Komodo Park, Pink Beach, to the traditional village of wae rebo. Well, this event will certainly hinder the development of tourism in NTT," Dipo told reporters, Thursday, January 8.

As is known, the search, which has been extended three times, has finally yielded results. One day before the search period ended, SAR had found three victims in a dead state. Although, another victim, the son of the Valencia coach is still in the process of being searched.

Dipo urged the government and authorities to conduct a thorough, transparent, and accountable investigation to uncover the causes of the ship's sinking and determine who should be held responsible.

The PKB legislator from the NTT District emphasized that the investigation should cover all aspects, ranging from the issuance of the Sailing Approval Letter (SPB) by the Labuan Bajo Port Authority and Port Authority (KSOP) on December 26, weather conditions based on information from the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG), to the technical feasibility of the tourist ship.

"The examination must be carried out thoroughly, not partially, so that everything is revealed clearly without being covered up. Labuan Bajo is an international tourist destination that should have high standards in ensuring the safety of tourists," said Dipo.

In addition, Dipo also asked the government to conduct a thorough audit of the condition of tourist boats, especially those operating in Labuan Bajo. According to him, the audit is important to ensure that the ship meets the standards of maritime safety.

"Safety at sea must be the top priority, not just administrative completeness. The presence of human casualties shows that the safety principle has not been implemented to the maximum," said Dipo.

Dipo also highlighted the weakness of internal supervision of the KSOP Labuan Bajo. He assessed that the municipal police should prioritize the aspect of maritime safety as the main mandate.

"Officials who issue SPB in the midst of extreme weather warnings must be evaluated because this concerns human life," he concluded.