{"id":7641,"date":"2026-07-15T19:38:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/?p=7641"},"modified":"2026-07-15T20:13:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T12:13:40","slug":"video-timeline-how-a-chinese-couples-komodo-open-trip-ended-in-tragedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heybali.info\/news\/video-timeline-how-a-chinese-couples-komodo-open-trip-ended-in-tragedy\/","title":{"rendered":"Video & Timeline: How a Chinese Couple’s Komodo Open Trip Ended in Tragedy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia<\/strong> \u2014 It was supposed to be the first day of a two-day island-hopping adventure through the waters of Komodo National Park<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, the journey ended in tragedy after a Chinese husband and wife died during a snorkeling stop at Kelor Island<\/strong>, just off the coast of Labuan Bajo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While authorities have confirmed the couple drowned during the excursion, interviews conducted by Hey Bali News<\/strong> with a local source familiar with the trip provide a clearer picture of how the day unfolded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Morning Departure from Labuan Bajo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to KI<\/strong>, a Labuan Bajo resident familiar with the incident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the group departed Labuan Bajo at around 9 a.m.<\/strong> aboard the tourist vessel Rinca Story<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The couple were among nine guests<\/strong> taking part in a two-day, one-night open-trip package<\/strong>, which was scheduled to visit several islands before spending the night at a homestay on Rinca Island<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Kelor was the first stop,” KI told Hey Bali News.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\nPhoto:

Photo: The body of a male tourist from China being found on the afternoon of July 15, 2026, around 4:00 PM on Kelor Island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Snorkeling at Kelor Island<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After arriving at Kelor Island, passengers went ashore before entering the water to snorkel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to KI, information relayed from people aboard the tour indicated that the husband and wife were not snorkeling together<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“From what we were told, the husband and wife were apart while snorkeling,” KI said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Exactly what happened after they entered the water remains unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one is believed to have witnessed the moment the couple got into difficulty, according to KI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Alarm Was Raised Before the Tour Moved On<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

KI said the emergency only became apparent as the group was preparing to leave Kelor Island and continue to the next destination on the itinerary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The woman was reportedly found first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The female victim was found first,” KI said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A search then continued for her husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His body was not recovered until around 4 p.m.<\/strong>, several hours after the initial discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The husband’s body was found later in the afternoon,” KI said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both victims were later transported to Labuan Bajo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities Continue Investigation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, Stephanus Risdiyanto<\/strong>, head of the Class III Labuan Bajo Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP), confirmed that the victims were two Chinese nationals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also stressed that the incident was not a maritime accident<\/strong>, as it occurred after passengers had already disembarked from the tourist boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search and rescue teams evacuated the victims to a hospital in Labuan Bajo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities have not yet released the cause of the drowning or disclosed whether sea conditions, currents, equipment, or other factors contributed to the tragedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As investigations continue, the deaths serve as a sobering reminder that even routine snorkeling excursions in one of Indonesia’s most celebrated marine destinations can carry risks, particularly when the circumstances surrounding an emergency are not immediately noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n