Six Fishermen Rescued After Boat Hits Reef in Komodo National Park

Manggarai Barat — The fishing boat Mori Sama 02 sank after striking a reef south of Siaba Kecil Island in Komodo National Park on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. A joint search-and-rescue team evacuated all six fishermen safely and escorted the vessel, which was towed by another boat toward Siaba Kecil Island.

The accident occurred in the waters of Manggarai Barat, East Nusa Tenggara, near Labuan Bajo. The Maumere Search and Rescue Office received the accident report from the fishermen’s families at about 8:30 a.m. A joint team departed at 8:50 a.m. and reached the site at about 9 a.m.

Six fishermen escaped a sinking boat in Komodo National Park

The vessel had left Mules Island on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 10 a.m. carrying a load of fish from Warloka. At about 1 a.m. on Thursday, it struck a reef and sank. The six fishermen aboard were later evacuated in safe condition.

The rescue operation included a rigid inflatable boat from the Manggarai Barat Search and Rescue Post and a speedboat operated by the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority. The response took place while the same joint team was conducting the 10th day of a search for Veronica Beatrix Jessica, who was missing after the pinisi Feronia sank in Komodo National Park.

For visitors and foreign residents, the incident underscores that marine travel inside the national park can involve active rescue operations and changing conditions around reef waters. The reports do not state that the park was closed or that tourism access was suspended. They describe a completed evacuation and the towing of Mori Sama 02 toward Siaba Kecil Island.

Sources

• detikBali — regional news report
• RRI — Indonesian public radio broadcaster
• flores.tribunnews.com