Indonesian rescuers were searching Saturday for a Spanish soccer coach and his three children after a tourist boat carrying 11 people sank overnight near Padar Island, a popular destination within komodo national park, officials said.
The boat was carrying a family of six, four crew members and a local guide when it sank Friday night after suffering engine failure on a trip from Komodo Island to Padar, said Fathur Rahman, director of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office.
Three people were rescued by a passing boat and four others were rescued by a search and rescue team, he said. Among the survivors were the Spanish mother and a daughter. The father, two sons and another daughter are missing, he said.
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Spanish soccer club Valencia said the victims included the coach of its women’s reserve team, Fernando Martín, and three of his children. In a statement on X, Valencia CF expressed its condolences and said that local authorities confirmed his death. Real Madrid CF also expressed its condolences for the death of Martín, 44, and his three children.
However, Rahman said the search was suspended on Saturday night due to bad weather and poor visibility and will resume early Sunday.
“Our teams have been combing the waters north of Padar Island until nightfall,” Rahman said. “We are determined to find the victims.”
Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its rugged landscapes, pristine beaches and The Komodo dragon in danger of extinction. The park attracts thousands of visitors for diving, hiking and wildlife tours.
Survivors were treated at the port office in the city of Labuan Bajo as strong waves up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) high and darkness hampered emergency services overnight, Rahman said.
Multiple rescue units in inflatable boats, a navy ship with diving equipment and a rescue boat participated in the search, with the help of fishermen and local residents. It focused on a 5-nautical-mile (9-kilometer) radius of the sinking site, where rescuers found the wreckage of the ship, Rahman said.
Indonesia is an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, where boats are a common means of transportation. Due to lax safety regulations and overcrowding problems, accidents occur frequently.
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