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A glass panel broke on a 32-foot-high suspension bridge in Indonesia on October 25.
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The accident resulted in one death, according to The Jakarta Post.
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The company that constructed the bridge was negligent and used thin glass, according to local authorities.
A tourist was tragically killed when a glass panel shattered on a suspension bridge in Indonesia on October 25, as reported by The Jakarta Post based on local police statements.
The suspension bridge, towering at 32 feet, was a popular attraction in the enchanting Limpakuwus Pine Forest in Banyumas Regency, Central Java. The incident occurred at 10 a.m. while 11 tourists were strolling on the bridge, according to The Post.
A video of the incident quickly went viral on TikTok, captivating over two million viewers. The video depicted a person dangling from the bridge, while two individuals desperately rescued them. In the footage, a glass-like object can be seen and heard crashing to the ground.
According to The Jakarta Post, Edy Suranta Sitepu, the chief of Bayumas City Police, disclosed that the shattered glass panels caused two people to plunge to the ground, while two others clung onto the handles. Unfortunately, one person lost their life, and the other sustained minor injuries. However, the exact number of casualties remains unverified.
Agus Supriadi, head of the criminal investigation unit at Banyumas City Police, asserted to The Post on October 27 that the bridge construction company displayed negligence by employing substandard glass and failing to conduct necessary safety tests or maintenance. Insider’s attempts to obtain comments from the Indonesian police’s PR division were unsuccessful.
According to the Post, investigators discovered that the glass panels were less than half an inch thick. Comparatively, the Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona employs nearly 3-inch thick glass panels, equipped with replaceable top layers in case of damage.
Edy Suranta Sitepu informed The Post on Wednesday that Edi Suseno, the bridge’s owner and manager, has been apprehended and charged with negligence resulting in the tourist’s fatality. If found guilty, Suseno could face up to five years in prison. However, Insider has not independently verified Suseno’s detainment or the name of his construction company.
According to Tribun Solo, a local news outlet, Sitepu revealed on Monday that Suseno personally designed the ill-fated bridge, further exacerbating the negligence claims. The article states that the potential detainee’s construction company remains unverified.
This incident is not the first time the safety of glass suspension bridges has come into question. In May 2021, strong winds shattered several glass panels, leaving a man stranded on a similar bridge in China, as reported by The Guardian. Likewise, in February 2022, cracks were spotted on the panels of Vietnam’s tallest glass suspension bridge, leading to safety evaluations.
Read the full article on Insider.
