JAKARTA, January 2, 2026 — A Spanish tourist died and three of his children remain missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Indonesia’s Komodo National Park last Friday, intensifying scrutiny of maritime safety standards in the popular tourist destination.
Indonesia’s Tourism Safety in Crisis After Fatal Boat Accident
A family vacation turned tragic near Labuan Bajo, highlighting recurring concerns about lax oversight and inadequate safety measures for tourist vessels.
- A boat carrying 11 people, including a family of six from Spain, capsized in rough seas on Friday.
- Fernando Martín, a soccer coach, and three of his children are missing, while his wife and youngest daughter were rescued.
- Authorities are conducting a large-scale search operation, hampered by inclement weather.
- The incident has sparked calls for a comprehensive review of maritime safety regulations and enforcement.
The vessel, carrying 11 people – a family of six Spanish nationals, four crew members, and a tour guide – went down in the Padar Island Strait in East Nusa Tenggara around 9 p.m. local time. The boat experienced engine failure approximately 30 minutes after departing from Kalong Island, leaving it vulnerable to waves between two and three meters high.
Crew members were able to rescue the mother and her seven-year-old daughter, who, along with other crew and the tour guide, reached safety on a lifeboat before being picked up by another boat and search-and-rescue teams. However, the father, identified as Fernando Martín, a coach with Spanish soccer club Valencia CF Femenino B, and three of his children are still missing, believed to have been trapped inside the cabin when the boat capsized.
On Monday, rescuers recovered the body of a 12-year-old, presumed to be one of the missing children, though formal identification is still pending. The government has deployed additional resources to aid in the search for the remaining victims, urging rescuers to expedite their efforts. Adverse weather conditions and strong currents are complicating the operation, according to the search and rescue agency.
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena announced that his administration will conduct a thorough evaluation of maritime safety around Komodo National Park following the tragedy. “After the search-and-rescue operations for the missing victims are completed, we will carry out a full evaluation of marine and tourism safety in Labuan Bajo and other parts of East Nusa Tenggara to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again,” he said on Tuesday.
A Pattern of Maritime Mishaps
This incident isn’t isolated. Just days earlier, on Monday, another vessel sank near the piers of Pelabuhan Marina Waterfront in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai regency. Authorities reported the boat went down after all crew members fell asleep, failing to pump out accumulating water. Fortunately, no one was injured in that incident.
Siswanto Rusdi, director of the National Maritime Institute, pointed to systemic issues. “Many tourist boats do not meet safety standards, and many crew members are uncertified, relying on local residents without sufficient training. Yet, when accidents occur, no one takes responsibility, which is why these incidents keep happening,” he said on Monday. “All passenger vessel safety standards should place human lives as the primary consideration. For too long, profit has been prioritized over safety, and this mindset must change.”
Lawmakers are also responding. Lasarus, chair of the House of Representatives Commission V, which oversees transportation and infrastructure, stated that the commission will conduct a detailed examination of the incident once the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) releases its final report. “However, we must emphasize that strict supervision of vessel seaworthiness is non-negotiable, and operators must closely monitor weather forecasts before sailing,” Lasarus said on Tuesday.
Several other fatal boat accidents have occurred in Indonesia this year. In August, two Chinese nationals and one Indonesian man were lost when a speedboat carrying 80 passengers sank near Sanur Port on Bali. In July, the Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry sank in the Bali Strait, resulting in 19 deaths and leaving 16 people missing after a 20-day search. In May, eight people died and dozens were injured when a boat capsized near Tikus Island off Bengkulu City. And in March, an Australian woman died and at least one other passenger was injured when a boat capsized off Bali.
What can be done to improve maritime safety in Indonesia? A comprehensive overhaul of safety regulations, rigorous crew training, and strict enforcement of seaworthiness standards are crucial steps to prevent future tragedies.
