Rescuers recovered a third body from a tour boat that sank in the Komodo National Park area on Dec. 26, officials said, while two sons of Valencia CF Women’s B coach Fernando Martín remain missing. Fishermen spotted wreckage near Pede Beach, and the recovered body was found about 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) from the sinking site. Martín and his daughter were cremated in Bali at the family's request because the mortuary in Labuan Bajo had no space. Authorities cited engine failure as the likely cause of the sinking.
Third Body Recovered After Tour Boat Sinks in Komodo; Two Sons of Spanish Coach Still Missing
In this photo released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, rescuers put the newly recovered body of a victim of a tourist boat that sank in the waters of Komodo National Park on Dec. 26 into an ambulance in Labuan Baja, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Rescuers recovered a third body Tuesday from a tour boat that sank during a Christmas holiday outing in the Komodo National Park area, officials said, while two sons of Spanish coach Fernando Martín remained unaccounted for.
Rescue and Recovery
Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office, said fishermen first spotted wreckage near Pede Beach. The body was recovered close to that shoreline, roughly 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) from where the vessel went down after suffering engine failure on the evening of Dec. 26.
Who Was On Board
The small tour boat was carrying Martín, 44, his wife, their four children, four crew members and a local guide. Martín’s wife and one child were among those rescued in the hours following the incident, along with the four crew members and the guide. Two of Martín’s sons remain missing.
Aftermath
Relatives requested that Martín and his daughter be cremated. East Nusa Tenggara police spokesperson Ariasandy — who uses a single name — said their bodies were cremated in Bali on Monday because the mortuary in Labuan Bajo lacked space.
"The wreckage was found several kilometers from the sinking site, and search teams continue to look for the missing children," an official said.
Context
Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where boats are a primary means of travel. Lax safety oversight and persistent overcrowding on vessels have contributed to frequent maritime accidents in the region.
Note: Authorities and local rescuers continue search operations while families receive support from emergency services and consular representatives.
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