Indonesian rescuers seek Spanish coach and 3 children after cruise ship sinks – National

Indonesian rescuers searched for a Spanish soccer coach and his three children on Saturday after a boat carrying 11 people sank overnight near Padar Island, a popular spot in Komodo National Park, officials said.

The boat was carrying a family of six crew members, four crew members and a local guide when it went down on Friday evening after an engine failure on the trip from Komodo Island to Padar, said Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office.

He said three people were rescued by a passing ship, and four others were picked up by the investigative team. Survivors include a Spanish mother and one daughter. The father, two sons and one daughter were not there, he said.

Spanish football club Valencia said the coach of the visiting women’s team, Fernando Martín, and his three children were among the victims. In a statement to X, Valencia CF expressed its sadness, saying that their deaths were confirmed by the local authorities. Real Madrid CF also expressed its condolences on 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 on Sunday morning.

“Our teams have been combing the waters north of Padar Island until evening,” said Rahman. “We are determined to find the victims.”

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Komodo National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site famous for its rugged terrain, pristine beaches and the endangered Komodo dragon. The park attracts thousands of visitors for diving, hiking and wildlife tours.

Survivors were treated at an office in the port city of Labuan Bajo as strong waves of up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) high and darkness hampered emergency services overnight, Rahman said.

The search involved several rescue centers in inflatable boats, a submarine with diving equipment and a rescue boat, with the help of local fishermen and residents. It was centered on a 5-nautical-mile (9-kilometer) area from where it sank, where rescuers found the wreckage of the boat, Rahman said.

Indonesia is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, where boats are the most common mode of transportation. With lax safety standards and congestion issues, accidents happen more often.

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