KM Yukai tourist vessel capsizes in Labuan Bajo waters

The pinisi tourist vessel KM Yukai capsized in the waters of Seture Island, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday morning, September 27. The incident occurred while the vessel was transporting a group of tourists from the Pulau Kelapa mooring area toward Pulau Bidadari for snorkeling activities.

The accident was reportedly caused by the ship striking a shallow coral reef, which resulted in a serious hull breach. As water entered the vessel, it tilted at an extreme angle before sinking.

A total of 17 people on board, consisting of 12 tourists and 5 crew members, were successfully evacuated. Among the tourists were seven foreign nationals, including citizens from Belgium. The rescue operation was facilitated by nearby tourist vessels, KM NK Jaya 01 and KM Alfatran, as well as Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB) from Polairud and Basarnas. All passengers and crew reached the Labuan Bajo pier safely by approximately 08:15 WITA, where they received medical triage and psychological support.