The bodies of two Chinese tourists who died while snorkeling remain in the mortuary at Komodo Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), four days after their deaths.
“They have not yet been repatriated, they remain at RSUD Komodo,” said Acting Director of RSUD Komodo, Paulus Ndarung, on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
The tourists, Guo Xingyou, 29, and Sha Gingyang, 30, a married couple, drowned while snorkeling in the waters off Pulau Kelor, Labuan Bajo, on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 15.
Family Awaiting Visa Processing
Paulus said the hospital had received information that the victims’ family intends to travel to Indonesia to collect the bodies. According to him, the family in China is still processing visas to enter Indonesia.
“The latest information from the [Chinese] consulate is that the family will come to Indonesia. The family is currently waiting on the visa application process to Indonesia,” Paulus said.
Charles Christian Mathaus, Head of the Class II Immigration Office at Labuan Bajo, said his office has coordinated with the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Bali regarding the repatriation of the two bodies.
“We have conveyed this matter to the representative of the Consulate General of the PRC in Bali. The information has been passed on to the family. The family will come to Labuan Bajo,” Christian said.
Background on the Incident
The accident began when the open-deck vessel KM Rinca Story (GT 19), owned by Agus Prawijaya, departed Marina Waterfront Port in Labuan Bajo at approximately 10:00am on July 15, carrying a mix of domestic and foreign tourists to Pulau Kelor.
Upon arrival, the tourists went ashore and trekked before snorkeling. While the two Chinese tourists were snorkeling, no boat crew member or tour guide was supervising them.
The two tourists were also not wearing life jackets while snorkeling. The boat crew had only equipped them with diving masks (goggles) and fins.
Shortly after, Guo Xingyou was found floating in the water off Pulau Kelor. Other tourists attempted CPR, but he could not be revived.
Sha Gingyang’s body was later found by a joint search and rescue team at a depth of 23 meters on the seabed. Both bodies were subsequently evacuated to RSUD Komodo.
