May 25, 2026, 08:23May 25, 2026, 12:04 p.m
Two Austrian tourists died in an accident near a popular waterfall on the Indonesian island of Flores. 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 tourist destination. It is about two hours drive from the famous tourist spot Labuan Bajo.
The Cunca Wulang Waterfall on the Indonesian island of Flores – this is where the two tourists wanted to go.Image: IMAGO / Peter Schickert
The bodies of the 55-year-old man and the 57-year-old woman were recovered from a river below the bridge on Sunday, said the head of the local search and rescue authority, Fathur Rahman, in the morning (local time). During their 30-minute hike to the waterfall, visitors have to cross the approximately 50-meter-long suspension bridge.
What had happened?
The couple’s travel guide told the “Hey Bali News” portal that parts of the bridge had suddenly given way. “They walked next to each other and smiled into the camera,” the guide told reporters. “Suddenly I heard a very loud noise of wood breaking, like a large branch falling.”
Within seconds, several planks of the bridge collapsed – and the vacationers fell about 20 meters into the depths. Photos circulated in local media showed a large hole in the suspension bridge. It was initially unclear where exactly the victims in Austria came from.
Suspension bridges in remote areas of Indonesia are often built from local materials and are only inspected irregularly, the portal continued, warning: “For travelers who want to visit such places, the incident is a reminder that infrastructure standards vary widely across the Indonesian archipelago.” A bridge that looks pretty in photos could actually be deadly.
The Cunca Wulang Waterfall pours 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 waters of the gorge.
Deadly tourist accidents again and again
Flores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands and is located about 500 kilometers east of Bali. The island attracts guests from all over the world because of its diving areas, volcanic landscapes and proximity to Komodo National Park with the rare Komodo dragons.
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 Difficult terrain, partly outdated infrastructure and long rescue routes make operations difficult in many regions of the world’s largest island state. Just in December, four members of a Spanish family of six died when their boat capsized off Flores. Last June, a Brazilian woman fell to her death at the Rinjani volcano on the Indonesian island of Lombok. (sda/dpa)