Discovery of Torpedo-Like Object in Gili Trawangan, Police Confirm It Is Not a Bomb

An unidentified object resembling a torpedo was found in the waters of Gili Trawangan, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Police have confirmed that the object is not an explosive device, but rather an instrument for measuring ocean currents.

“Examination results indicate that the object is not a bomb, explosive material, or radioactive. It is a device for measuring sea currents at certain depths,” stated the Head of Public Relations for NTB Police, Commissioner Mohammad Kholid, on Tuesday (7/4/2026).

Kholid explained that such devices are commonly used for research or monitoring sea conditions. “They are usually attached to buoys or placed on the seabed,” he added.

The torpedo-like foreign object had previously gone viral on social media, with many speculating it originated from China due to Mandarin writing on it.

Kholid did not provide details on the object’s origin, only confirming it was not explosive.

Earlier, a fisherman named Arianto discovered the torpedo-like object in the waters of Gili Trawangan on Monday (6/4). At the time, Arianto was netting fish about 16 kilometres north of Gili Trawangan.

“Due to its suspicious nature, the object was pulled and brought to the beach,” said the North Lombok Police Chief, AKBP Agus Purwanta, on Monday.

Physically, the object has striking specifications. It measures about 3.7 metres in length with a diameter of 70 centimetres, cylindrical in shape resembling a torpedo, with features typical of underwater observation or survey devices.

Agus emphasised that initial investigation results confirm the object is neither explosive nor radioactive. Currently, the foreign object has been handed over to the Mataram Naval Base (Lanal) of the Indonesian Navy.