Indonesia: Suspension bridge collapses, two Austrian tourists die
Quick Look
- Two Austrian tourists died on the Indonesian island of Flores when a suspension bridge collapsed while they were crossing it.
- Their bodies were recovered from a river below the bridge.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Two Austrian tourists died on the Indonesian island of Flores when a suspension bridge collapsed. The bridge led to the popular Cunca-Wulang Waterfall, a tourist attraction.
In the jungle of Indonesia, an excursion ended fatally for two tourists from Austria: They were crossing a suspension bridge when it suddenly collapsed. The bodies of the two were recovered from a river.
Two Austrian tourists died in an accident on the Indonesian island of Flores near a popular waterfall. According to authorities, the two vacationers fell from a suspension bridge that leads through the jungle to the Cunca-Wulang Waterfall. The area is a popular excursion destination. It is located about two hours' drive from the well-known tourist town of Labuan Bajo.
The bodies of the 55-year-old man and the 57-year-old woman were recovered from a river below the bridge on Sunday morning (local time), said Fathur Rahman, head of the local search and rescue authority. Visitors must cross the approximately 50-meter-long suspension bridge on their roughly 30-minute hike to the waterfall.
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What happened?
The couple's tour guide told the portal "Hey Bali News" that the bridge suddenly collapsed. "They were walking side by side and smiling into the camera," the guide reportedly told reporters. "Suddenly I heard a very loud noise of breaking wood, like a large branch falling." Within seconds, the bridge collapsed – and the vacationers fell about 20 meters into the depths. Where exactly the victims came from in Austria was initially unclear.
The Cunca-Wulang Waterfall cascades into a narrow canyon that looks like a miniature version of the Grand Canyon in the USA. Tourists can jump from the rocks and swim in the turquoise water of the gorge.
Repeated fatal tourist accidents
Flores is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands and is located about 500 kilometers east of Bali. Because of its diving areas, volcanic landscapes, and proximity to Komodo National Park with its rare Komodo dragons, the island attracts guests from all over the world.
Fatal accidents at remote natural attractions are not uncommon in Indonesia. Difficult terrain, partly outdated infrastructure, and long rescue routes make operations difficult in many regions of the world's largest island nation. In December, four members of a six-person Spanish family died when their boat capsized off Flores. Last June, a Brazilian woman fell to her death at Mount Rinjani on the Indonesian island of Lombok.
Open Questions
- What was the exact cause of the bridge collapse?
- What is the condition of the infrastructure in the area?
- Were there any prior warnings or concerns about the bridge's safety?
- What is the origin of the victims within Austria?
