On June 29, the wooden cruise schooner Bahari Angin Mamiri was en route from the Labuan Bajo marina to Komodo Island when it was caught in a short squall between Mawan Island and Cape Lokima. Waves rose to two meters, and wind gusts reached 30 knots. The vessel turned sideways to the waves, tilted, and sank.
There were 17 people on board—eight tourists from Spain and China, four guides, and five crew members. According to Captain Yunaidin, the vessel lost course after strong currents turned it against the wind. The passengers managed to put on life jackets and were picked up by the nearby yacht Aurelia, which took them to Labuan Bajo. They suffered only shock and minor bruises; hospitalization was not needed.
That evening, Labuan Bajo port authority chief Stefanus Risdianto issued an urgent notice to mariners: until July 5, tourist catamarans, motorboats, and other vessels are advised to avoid the southern waters of Padar, Rinca, and Komodo. Meteorologists forecast waves above 2.5 meters and steady winds of around 25-30 knots.
Photo/detik.com
Recall that on June 22, 2024, in the same waters, the schooner Budi Utama sank: all 22 people on board were rescued, but the investigation revealed that the permitted number of passengers had been exceeded, prompting a series of unplanned inspections of ships in the Komodo park.
Sources: detik.com, liputan6.com
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