Chronology of KM Putri Sakinah Sinking Revealed by Fernando Martin Carreras' Wife at Labuan Bajo District Court Hearing
The trial of the sinking of the tourist vessel KM Putri Sakinah has revealed new facts. One of the survivors, Andrea Ortuno, provided important testimony in a hearing held at the Labuan Bajo District Court via Zoom on Tuesday (31/3).
Andrea, the wife of Fernando Martin Carreras, who was a fatality, detailed the chronology of the tragic sinking of KM Putri Sakinah, which claimed three members of her family and another victim who remains missing to this day.
In her testimony, Andrea explained that her family’s tourist trip began on 26 December 2025. They arrived at Komodo International Airport and were picked up by a travel agent to Marina Harbour in Labuan Bajo.
From the start, she claimed to have noticed irregularities in safety aspects. According to her, the life jackets provided were small in size and in poor condition. Additionally, the vessel offered did not match the one used.
The sea journey began with a common tourist route, stopping at Kalong Island before continuing to Padar Island.
However, the situation changed drastically at night. Andrea said she was sleeping with her two children when she suddenly felt a hard impact that woke her up.
“I woke up because of a bang. I immediately tried to save my child,” she said through a translator from the Spanish Embassy.
Andrea stated that at the time of the incident, all passengers were inside the cabins. She and her daughter Amanda managed to get out, while her other daughter, Lia, was later found dead.
Meanwhile, her husband Fernando and her two sons were in a different cabin during the incident.
She said she screamed for help, but there was no response from the crew. In her testimony, Andrea also highlighted how quickly the vessel sank.
“The ship sank in just a few minutes,” she said.
Furthermore, she noted that while she and her child were trying to save themselves, the crew were already on another vessel in dry condition.
Andrea’s testimony reinforces suspicions of negligence in safety procedures. She emphasised that she did not see maximum efforts from the crew to evacuate all passengers before the vessel fully sank.
This incident has become a serious spotlight, considering that tourist vessels should meet strict safety standards, especially in premium destinations like Komodo National Park.
The sinking of KM Putri Sakinah, which occurred at the end of December 2025, immediately triggered investigations by police and maritime authorities.
Based on initial investigation results, several alleged violations were found, from the suitability of safety equipment to vessel operational procedures. Witness statements, including from survivors and authorities, form the basis for strengthening the case.
In case developments, authorities then named two individuals as suspects, namely Lukman and Muhamad Alif Latifa Djudje. Both are now seated as defendants in the ongoing trial.
The hearing, presided over by Chief Judge Putu Dima Indra, features several other important witnesses, including the Head of KSOP Labuan Bajo and representatives from BMKG Komodo to strengthen aspects of maritime operations and weather conditions at the time of the incident.
The KM Putri Sakinah case serves as a harsh reminder to the marine tourism industry in Labuan Bajo regarding the importance of safety standards. In addition to the beauty of the destination, tourist safety has now become a primary concern being tested in this legal process.
The trial will continue with agendas for examining further witnesses and delving into evidence to fully uncover the causes of the tragedy that shook the tourism sector.