Bridge Built by Military District Command Collapses While Being Crossed by Pangandaran Regent, Indonesian Army Explains

The Indonesian Army has spoken out regarding the Pongpet bridge in Margajaya Hamlet, Margacinta Village, Cijulang District, Pangandaran Regency, which tilted while being inaugurated by Pangandaran Regent Citra Pitriyami on Sunday (30/8/2026). The Army stated that the incident occurred after 50 people crossed simultaneously, exceeding the designated capacity.

As a result, the sling cable on the left side of the bridge detached from its main anchor, causing the bridge to tilt.

“As reported by several media outlets, the condition has been described as the ‘collapse’ of the bridge. To clarify this information, what occurred was not a collapse or the total failure of the entire bridge structure,” stated the Indonesian Army Information Service (Dispenad) in an official statement on Monday (31/8/2026).

The Indonesian Army stated that the main structure of the bridge remained in its position. The part that experienced problems was the sling cable on the left side, which detached from the main anchoring system.

Prior to its use, Military District Command 0625/Pangandaran had also conducted public awareness campaigns and installed notice boards on the side of the bridge regarding its capacity and usage requirements. However, the enthusiasm of residents following the inauguration ceremony meant that these provisions were disregarded.