Spanish soccer coach missing after tourist boat sinks in Komodo National Park
The Labuan Bajo port authority attributes the sinking to high waves of up to three metres, but rescuers say they are "determined" to find survivors.
Indonesian rescuers are searching for a Spanish soccer coach and three of his children after a tour boat carrying 11 people sank near Padar Island, a popular destination within Komodo National Park, officials say.
The boat was carrying a family of six, four crew members and a local guide when it went down on Friday evening, local time, after suffering engine failure on a trip from Komodo Island to Padar, said Fathur Rahman, who heads the Maumere Search and Rescue Office.
The Labuan Bajo port authority attributed the sinking to high waves of up to three metres.
He said three people were rescued by a passing vessel, and four others were picked up by a search and rescue team.
The survivors included the Spanish mother and one daughter.
The father, two sons and another daughter were missing, he said.
Rescuers examine debris believed to be from the boat that sank. (AP: BASARNAS)
Mr Raham said the search was suspended on Saturday evening, local time, because of bad weather and poor visibility.
He also told AFP his team had found debris and parts of the vessel's hull near where the boat went down.
The Spanish soccer club Valencia said a coach for its women's reserve team, Fernando Martín, and three of his children were among the victims.
In a statement on X, Valencia CF expressed condolences, saying their deaths were confirmed by local authorities.
Real Madrid CF also offered condolences on the death of Martin, 44, and his three children.
The tributes seemed to contradict Mr Raham's search update.
"Our teams have been combing the northern waters of Padar Island until dusk," he added.
"We are determined to find the victims."
Video released by the National Search and Rescue Agency also showed emergency workers in blue uniforms helping people, some barefoot, out of an inflatable orange boat and onto shore.
Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its rugged landscapes, pristine beaches and the endangered Komodo dragon.
The park attracts thousands of visitors for diving, trekking and wildlife tours.
Indonesia is an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, where boats are a common form of transportation.
With lax safety standards and problems with overcrowding, accidents occur frequently.
AP/AFP