Navy Warship Joins Fifth-Day Search in Komodo Waters

Labuan Bajo — The Indonesian Navy deployed the warship KRI Pulau Fani-731 on Saturday, Oct. 17, to search for Veronica Beatrix Jessica, who remained missing after the pinisi Feronia sank in Batu Bolong, in Komodo National Park.

The operation had entered its fifth day. At 7 a.m. WITA (UTC+8), the warship searched for underwater contacts in the northern sector of the incident area, according to Lt. Col. Aan Harminanto, commander of the Labuan Bajo Naval Base.

Jessica, 23, was the only person still missing after the tourist vessel sank on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The vessel carried 30 people: 25 passengers and five crew members. Twenty-nine people were evacuated safely.

Why the search matters in Komodo

The search is taking place in and around a heavily visited national park, where a maritime emergency can involve strong currents, restricted visibility and difficult underwater conditions. The operation has used surface searches, divers, specialized underwater equipment and sonar as teams worked to locate Jessica and the wreck.

For visitors in Labuan Bajo, the incident underscores that trips into Komodo National Park can involve remote waters and rapidly changing conditions. The search area includes Batu Bolong and nearby waters, while the latest operation focused on the northern sector.

Search teams had not found Jessica by the fifth day. The search continued on Oct. 17, with KRI Pulau Fani-731 conducting underwater-contact searches from 7 a.m. WITA.

Sources

• detikBali — Indonesian regional news report
• ttu.inews.id