Building Cleaner Dies in Surabaya; Six Witnesses Questioned

Surabaya police are investigating a fatal workplace accident that occurred at Waterplace Residence Apartments in Surabaya, East Java. The victim, Edy Suparno, 51, died after being knocked from a gondola and swinging at height as a storm swept through Surabaya on Monday, 2 March. The Head of the Surabaya City Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit, AKBP Edy Herwiyanto, confirmed that investigators are collecting statements from those believed to know the sequence of events. “We are still questioning six witnesses,” he said.

Waterplace Residence management expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, with Building Manager Melly Muryana stating that they would cooperate with the police and the investigation.

Earlier, a glass cleaner at the Waterplace Residence building died in the incident. The incident began at about 14:30 local time, when four workers were cleaning the building’s glass façades. They were using two gondola units suspended from the building, with each gondola carrying two workers. A sudden downpour accompanied by strong winds battered the area. One gondola with two workers descended to the ground safely.

The other gondola, carrying two workers, stopped at the 26th floor. The workers swung high above the ground; one was clinging to a safety rope while the other was repeatedly striking the building after being knocked about by the winds and rain.

“The gondola that descended first reached the ground; the second gondola, at the time, was on the 26th floor and could not descend due to being buffeted by the winds and heavy rain,” said M Rokhim, Head of the Fire and Rescue Department of the Surabaya Fire and Rescue Agency.

Evacuation was undertaken by Pakuwon Mall internal teams with support from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the Surabaya Fire and Rescue Department (DPKP). Five fire service units were deployed to the scene.

The victim was identified as Edy Suparno, 51, from Tambak Wedi Baru, Surabaya. The victim’s colleague, Ribut Budiyanto, 53, also from Tambak Wedi Baru, remains in intensive care at William Booth Hospital.

“With regard to the second gondola, one worker did not survive, and one worker was rescued and referred to William Booth Hospital,” he added.