Mediation Underway After Two Chinese Tourists Drown While Snorkelling in Labuan Bajo

Two Chinese tourists, Guo Xingyou (29) and Sha Gingyang (30), died while snorkelling in the waters off Kelor Island, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. The families of the deceased, who were on their honeymoon, have remained in Labuan Bajo to request compensation from the travel agent and the boat owner.

Budi Widjaja, a volunteer liaison for the Chinese Consulate in Bali, stated that the families are seeking reimbursement for hospital bills, cargo costs for the bodies, and cremation expenses. Mediation facilitated by the West Manggarai Police is currently ongoing, but an agreement has yet to be reached.

Head of the West Manggarai Police Water and Air Unit, First Inspector Leonardo Marpaung, confirmed the mediation process but declined to specify the compensation amount demanded. He emphasised that the police are not in a position to determine the sum or the percentage split between the travel agent, PT Indomuka Travel Indonesia, and the boat owner. Should the mediation fail, the criminal investigation will proceed.

The police investigation has revealed that the victims faced a language barrier during the safety briefing and were not accompanied by a certified professional guide. Instead, they were supervised by a student intern from SMKN 1 Labuan Bajo. Furthermore, the tourists were not provided with life jackets and were left unsupervised while swimming in an area with dynamic currents.

Investigators have examined 14 witnesses, including the boat captain, crew members, the boat owner, the travel agent, and a key eyewitness. The case is being investigated under Article 474 of the Indonesian Criminal Code, which addresses negligence resulting in loss of life. Police stated that if the mediation fails, the case file will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office to proceed with criminal charges.