Indonesian Tour Boat Overturned by Giant Waves: Spanish Man and Three Children Missing

(Jakarta, 28th) An Indonesian tour boat capsized in turbulent waters, leaving a Spanish man and his three children missing and feared dead.

The incident occurred on Friday night (December 26) in the strait near Padar Island, close to the coastal town of Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara province. Labuan Bajo is near the famous Komodo Island and serves as a gateway for those going to see Komodo dragons.

At the time of the incident, there were 11 people aboard the tour boat, including six members of the missing man's family. Rescue teams reported that seven people were saved, including four crew members, one tour guide, as well as the missing man's wife and one daughter.
Search efforts for the father and his two sons and one daughter continued on Saturday, but rescue coordinator Fath stated that severe weather, strong currents, and waves up to 1.5 meters high were hindering the operation. Parts of the boat's wreckage have already been found near the site of the sinking.

Stefanus, Director of the Labuan Bajo Port Authority, stated that the tour boat capsized after encountering waves as high as three meters, and the conditions at sea at the time made rescue efforts difficult. Due to extremely harsh weather, Padar Island has been temporarily closed to tourists.
The Indonesian search and rescue agency stated in a release that authorities suspended rescue efforts on Saturday night and will resume on Sunday morning local time.
With around 17,000 islands, Indonesia often experiences maritime accidents due to insufficient safety standards and unfavorable weather conditions.