KM Feronia sinks off Tatawa Island as search continues
KM Feronia sank off Tatawa Island, Labuan Bajo, with 30 people aboard on 13 October 2026. SAR teams evacuated 29 people and continued searching for one missing passenger.
· 2 min read
Labuan Bajo — KM Feronia sank off Tatawa Island on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, while carrying 30 people, according to reports. Joint search-and-rescue teams evacuated 29 people, while one passenger remained missing.
The vessel was a traditional pinisi tourist boat operating in the waters of Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat, East Nusa Tenggara. Reports said the boat encountered a current whirl before listing, overturning and sinking at about 14.30 WITA (UTC+8).
The missing passenger was identified in reports as Veronica Beatrix Jessica, a 23-year-old Indonesian national. The evacuated group comprised 24 passengers and five crew members, according to the reports.
Why it matters to Labuan Bajo readers
The incident involved a tourist vessel in waters used for trips from Labuan Bajo to nearby islands. The evacuation and continuing search affected passengers, crew members and the local maritime response operation.
Reports said visibility and sea currents complicated the first day of the search. The operation involved joint SAR personnel, including the Manggarai Barat Search and Rescue Post, the Labuan Bajo Port Authority and Harbourmaster Office, the Labuan Bajo Naval Base and the NTT Regional Police water-police unit.
Search operations were scheduled to continue on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, with conditions at sea taken into account. The reports did not state that the missing passenger had been found.
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