Labuan Bajo. Indonesian search and rescue teams on Monday recovered the body of a Spanish woman during the fourth day of operations following the sinking of the vessel Putri Sakinah in waters off Labuan Bajo.
The body was found at 6:05 a.m. local time near Serai Island, according to authorities.
The discovery was reported by a local island resident who spotted the body floating near the shoreline and alerted officials. Fathur Rahman, head of the local SAR office, said rescue teams immediately moved to the site upon receiving the report.
“We received information from a resident of Serai Island named Nasaruddin about a body floating near the beach, and our team immediately proceeded to the location to evacuate the victim to Labuan Bajo,” Fathur said.
The victim’s mother, who survived the incident, identified the body at the evacuation site. She became visibly distressed while opening the body bag and confirmed the identity to officers, saying, “This is my daughter.”
Joint search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate the remaining three Spanish nationals still missing.
The Putri Sakinah was carrying six family members of Fernando Martín, four crew members, and a local guide when it sank on Dec. 26 after suffering engine failure during a voyage from Komodo Island to Padar Island.
Two passengers — the Spanish mother and one daughter — survived the accident. Martín, his two sons, and another daughter remain missing, authorities said.
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