SAR deploys sonar and underwater robot in Tatawa Island search

Labuan Bajo — On the fourth search day, Indonesian search-and-rescue teams deployed sonar, a remotely operated underwater vehicle and 27 divers near Tatawa Island in Komodo National Park on Friday, 16 October 2026, while passenger Veronica Beatrix Jessica remained missing, according to RRI and other reports.

The operation began at 07.50 WITA (UTC+8) and involved 132 people from several SAR units. The equipment included a single-beam sonar operated by the East Nusa Tenggara regional water police, an ROV from PT Famindo and side-scan sonar from the Indonesian Navy's Koarmada II in Surabaya.

RRI reported that the ROV was lowered to about 99 metres and that the side-scan sonar searched waters around Mawan, Batu Bolong, Siaba and Tatawa Island. The operation also used surface searches and dives around Tatawa Kecil and Pulau Bugis.

RRI said the 27 divers came from the Maumere Search and Rescue Office, Lanal Labuan Bajo, Koarmada II and P3KOM Labuan Bajo. The operation found a KM Feronia life jacket at 11.21 WITA, but underwater checks had not located the vessel or the missing passenger.

Why it matters to Komodo readers

The search took place in waters used by visitors and local maritime operators in Manggarai Barat. The continued deployment of specialist underwater equipment shows the operational challenges of locating a person and vessel in deep, current-affected waters around the national park.

Earlier reports said KM Feronia sank near Tatawa Island on 13 October 2026 with 30 people aboard. Twenty-nine people were evacuated, while one passenger remained unaccounted for, according to RRI and other reports.

RRI reported that the fourth-day operation ended at 18.00 WITA after the search teams returned to Marina Labuan Bajo for evaluation and debriefing. A separate regional report said the operation was scheduled to continue on Saturday, 17 October 2026, from 06.00 WITA.

Sources

• Tribunnews.com — regional news report
• RRI — public radio news organisation
• liputan6.com