Police have announced they will investigate the boat owner, captain, and crew connected to the deaths of two Chinese tourists who drowned while snorkeling in the waters off Pulau Kelor, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). The victims, a married couple, were identified as Guo Xingyou, 29, and Sha Gingyang, 30.
West Manggarai Police Chief AKBP Christian Kadang highlighted alleged negligence in marine tourism safety procedures, noting that the victims were not wearing life jackets and were unsupervised by boat crew or a tour guide while snorkeling.
“We will question the captain, crew, and boat owner in a marathon series of interviews,” Christian said on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
No Licensed Guide Present
Christian said no licensed professional tour guide accompanied the two Chinese tourists during the activity. Instead, their guide was a vocational school (SMK) student undergoing field work practice (PKL).
“We will also examine why an uncertified intern was given that level of responsibility in the field,” Christian said. “If it is proven that there was intentional disregard of safety procedures for economic gain, we will take firm legal action without hesitation.”
Christian pointed to findings that the tour boat lacked both protective safety equipment and professional guiding staff for the tourists involved in the incident, and confirmed that legal proceedings would move forward.
“It makes no sense to allow tourists to snorkel in an area with dynamic currents without wearing life jackets. What’s more concerning is that they were only accompanied by a student intern, without any supervision from the captain, boat crew, or a licensed guide,” he added.
Potential Charges
Christian said police would soon file a formal police report to further investigate potential violations of Article 474, Paragraph (3) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP), which addresses negligence (culpa) resulting in the loss of another person’s life, as well as related provisions under Indonesia’s Shipping Law.
West Manggarai Police have so far seized the boat’s documents, passenger manifest, and snorkeling equipment from KM Rinca Story as evidence.
“This tragedy at Pulau Kelor is a serious wake-up call for everyone in Labuan Bajo’s tourism industry that visitor safety must always come before business interests,” Christian said.
How the Incident Occurred
The incident began when the open-deck vessel KM Rinca Story (GT 19), owned by Agus Prawijaya, departed Marina Waterfront Port in Labuan Bajo on Wednesday, July 15, carrying a mix of domestic and international tourists to Pulau Kelor.
Upon arrival, the tourists went ashore and trekked before snorkeling. The victims are believed to have been swept by strong currents on the western side of Pulau Kelor, leading to extreme exhaustion.
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.
