Jessica, the Dive Master, Still Missing After Vessel Sank Immediately When It Capsized

The search for Veronica Beatrix Jessica (23), a victim of the pinisi vessel Feronia, which sank in the waters of Komodo National Park, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has entered its tenth day. The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) will evaluate the search operation over the next few days.

“We are continuing the operation and have now entered the tenth day. We will evaluate it three days from now,” Basarnas chief, Vice Marshal TNI Mohammad Syafii, said after a working visit to the Class A Search and Rescue Office in Kupang, NTT, as quoted by detikBali on Friday (23 October 2026).

Syafii said the search for Jessica would continue if the evaluation found there was still a possibility of locating her. The operation could be halted if conditions at the site indicated it was no longer effective.

“For example, the location of the vessel in distress. The depth is more than 200 metres, and its position has not been found because the vessel sank immediately when it capsized,” Syafii explained.

Syafii said a range of equipment had been deployed in the search. If the likelihood of finding the victim and the wreck becomes increasingly small, the operation will be shifted from a joint search to routine operations conducted by Basarnas.

“If there are signs that the vessel has been located, we will certainly evacuate it. The one victim, Jessica, is still being searched for,” Syafii said.

Syafii also highlighted the relatively high frequency of ship sinkings in Labuan Bajo. He said the issue was not solely Basarnas’ responsibility, but a shared one.