Indonesian rescuers search for Spanish coach and 3 children after tour boat sinks – National

Indonesian rescuers were searching for a Spanish soccer coach and his three children on Saturday after a tour boat carrying 11 people sank overnight near Padar Island, a popular destination in the country. Komodo National Park, » officials said.

The boat was carrying a family of six, four crew members and a local guide when it sank Friday evening after an engine failure while traveling from Komodo Island to Padar, said Fathur Rahman, who heads the Maumere search and rescue office.

He said three people were rescued by a passing ship and four others were picked up by a search and rescue team. Survivors included the Spanish mother and a daughter. The father, two sons and another daughter were missing, he said.

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Spanish football club Valencia said the coach of its women’s reserve team, Fernando Martín, and three of his children were among the victims. In a statement broadcast on X, Valencia CF expressed their condolences, saying their deaths had been confirmed by local authorities. Real Madrid CF also offered its condolences over the death of Martin, 44, and his three children.

However, Rahman said the search was suspended on Saturday evening due to bad weather and poor visibility and would resume early on Sunday.

“Our teams plied the waters off northern Padar Island until dusk,” 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, an endangered species. The park attracts thousands of visitors for diving, hiking and guided wildlife tours.

Survivors were treated at the port office in Labuan Bajo town as strong waves reaching 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in height and darkness hampered rescue efforts overnight, Rahman said.

The search involved several rescue units aboard inflatable boats, a navy ship equipped with diving equipment and a rescue vessel, with the help of fishermen and local residents. It was centered on a 9-kilometer radius around the shipwreck site, where rescuers found the boat’s debris, Rahman said.

Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where boats are a common means of transportation. Due to lax safety standards and overcrowding issues, accidents occur frequently.

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