NORTH LOMBOK, Indonesia — A joint search and rescue (SAR) team has launched a search operation for a South Korean national who was reported missing while snorkeling off the coast of Gili Trawangan in Gili Indah Village, Pemenang District, North Lombok Regency, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The missing individual has been identified as 31-year-old South Korean female Cheon Yuri.
According to reports received by the Mataram SAR Office, the incident unfolded along the waters off Gili Trawangan:
- Incident Timeline: The victim went snorkeling around 12:30 PM WITA near a local restaurant, separating from her companion to swim after sea turtles. Witnesses noted she was floating normally in the water.
- Disappearance & Alert: By 1:30 PM WITA, when her group returned to shore, Cheon failed to regroup. Initial searches by friends and local residents yielded no results before authorities were notified via the Gili Indah Police Sub-station.
- Joint SAR Deployment: Acting for Mataram SAR Head Muhamad Hariyadi, Bangsal SAR Unit Coordinator I Gusti Komang Aryadana deployed rescue teams aboard a Sea Rider to scour the last known location.
- Day One Results: The joint task force—comprising Bangsal SAR, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), NTB Regional Police Air and Water Unit (Polairud), North Lombok Police, local military, Basarnas volunteers, and local fishermen—temporarily suspended operations Tuesday night after initial searches returned negative results.
Emergency responders plan to resume search sweeps along the Gili Trawangan coast early Wednesday morning.
