Speedboat Medical Evacuation Underscores Komodo’s Reliance on Sea Transfers
An 85-year-old man identified as Yunus was evacuated by speedboat from Komodo Island to Labuan Bajo on 15 September 2026 after doctors at the local health centre referred him for hospital care for severe liver disease, highlighting…
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 3 min read
Labuan Bajo — An 85-year-old man identified as Yunus was evacuated by speedboat from Komodo Island to Labuan Bajo on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, after doctors at the island’s health centre referred him for hospital care for severe liver disease, according to a local public broadcaster and the Padar Heritage Conservation (PHC) team.
The patient was first treated at Puskesmas Komodo, the community health centre serving residents on the island in Manggarai Barat, East Nusa Tenggara.
PHC public relations representative Yoanna Daely said Yunus arrived in a weak condition and was kept under observation for several hours at the facility before being transferred to Labuan Bajo.
According to Puskesmas Komodo doctor Andreas, the patient’s vital signs became more stable than when he first arrived, but the medical team concluded he still needed prompt examination and treatment at a hospital.
PHC assisted the referral using its Speed Boat Matahari 7, which departed from the Komodo Island pier and headed to Marina Labuan Bajo with medical staff and four family members accompanying the patient during the journey.
Upon arrival in Labuan Bajo, Yunus was expected to be taken to the emergency unit of RSUD Komodo, the local public hospital, for further examination and care by hospital doctors.
Evacuation route shaped by geography
Komodo Island, part of Komodo National Park, lies across the strait from Labuan Bajo and depends on sea transport for access to higher-level medical facilities.
When patients require treatment beyond what is available at Puskesmas Komodo, referral to Labuan Bajo involves a boat journey through waters that are also a busy route for tourism and fisheries.
In this case, the use of PHC’s Matahari 7 speedboat enabled the transfer directly from the Komodo pier to Marina Labuan Bajo, where road access connects to RSUD Komodo.
Local maritime authorities have recently highlighted how sea conditions can affect movements in and out of Komodo National Park.
The Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) Class III Labuan Bajo issued a notice temporarily suspending tourist boat trips to Komodo and Padar islands on 9–10 September 2026 because of high waves and strong winds.
KSOP reported significant wave heights of up to around 3 metres in parts of the waters around the park, and instructed captains to avoid identified high-risk areas, adjust speed, and coordinate with search and rescue teams in case of emergencies.
Limited information on health capacity
The available accounts of Yunus’s evacuation describe his initial stabilisation at Puskesmas Komodo, the suspected severe liver condition, and the subsequent referral to RSUD Komodo using PHC’s speedboat.
They do not specify the full range of diagnostic equipment, medicines, procedures, or specialist services at the island health centre.
They also do not state how long the speedboat journey from Komodo Island to Labuan Bajo took, although local authorities have repeatedly warned that changing sea and weather conditions can affect travel times and safety in the area.
Beyond Yunus’s case, reports from PHC and local media describe the organisation’s role in supporting evacuations and emergency responses around Komodo National Park, including assistance in incidents involving tourists, using the same Matahari 7 speedboat.
Sources
Next story
Manggarai Barat’s DLHP launches Bank Sampah G-Lingko pilot waste bank
Manggarai Barat’s Environmental and Land Agency has formed Bank Sampah G-Lingko as a pilot waste bank under its office in Labuan Bajo, with UNDP descr…