The deaths of four members of a Valencian family who went missing in the sinking of a tourist boat in Indonesia have been confirmed.
The victims are the father, coach of the Valencia CF women's B team, and three of his children
BarcelonaIndonesian authorities confirmed on Saturday at midday the deaths of four members of the same family from Valencia who had traveled to the Asian country. They went missing yesterday after the tourist boat they were traveling on sank near Padar Island, east of Bali. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has deployed personnel to the area and assures that they are already in contact with the victims' family. Although initial reports indicated a couple and two children, ministry sources now explain that, in addition to the deceased, the consulate is assisting two other members of the group, who are now safe.
The missing are Fernando Martín Carreras, 44, a former footballer and current coach of Valencia CF's women's B team, and three of his children: two boys and a girl, aged 12, 10, and 9, who, according to initial reports, were trapped on the boat. The mother and another child, who were on the upper deck, were rescued at sea and are in good health. Four crew members and a tour guide were also on board and were rescued.
The grandfather of the missing children explained in statements to Cadena SER, reported by Europa Press, that the family has a total of eight members: the couple and six children. He added that the two youngest children had not traveled to the Asian country because they are very young. According to the same account, the family was heading to Komodo Island after spending a few days in Bali.
Indonesian authorities have explained that rescue efforts are still underway and could last for three or four days. Port authorities in the area attributed the shipwreck to rough seas, with waves up to three meters high. "The bad weather has complicated our work during the initial stages of the investigation," the port authority director, Stephanus Risdiyanto, told the Indonesian news agency Antara.
Padar Island will be closed to tourism this Saturday due to extreme weather conditions.
Expressions of condolence
As details of this tragic accident have emerged, so too have expressions of condolence. The President of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, and the Mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, have conveyed their dismay, affection, and support to the families of the missing. Pérez Llorca assured via social media that the Valencian Generalitat is "at the family's disposal to help in any way they may need during these difficult times." The world of football, the sector to which the father of the family dedicated himself, has also offered messages of solidarity to the family. His club, Valencia, mourned the death of their coach, and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), La Liga, and the vast majority of first and second division football clubs have sent messages of support to the victims and their club.
