Pangandaran Regent Injured as Pongpet Suspension Bridge Collapses During Inauguration
The Pongpet Merah Putih suspension bridge in Margajaya Hamlet, Margacinta Village, Cijulang District, Pangandaran Regency, West Java, suddenly collapsed during its inauguration ceremony on Sunday (30/8) at around 4 p.m. local time.
The bridge measured approximately 60 metres in length and 1.8 metres in width, and stood up to 30 metres above the river surface. The incident occurred after a sling cable on the right side of the bridge detached from its anchor block.
No fatalities were reported in the incident. However, several people sustained minor injuries, including Pangandaran Regent Citra Pitriyami, who suffered bruising to her hand.
The inauguration of the Pongpet Suspension Bridge, which had initially been a festive occasion, suddenly turned into panic. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the bridge was inspected by around 50 people crossing it, including Pangandaran Regent Citra Pitriyami, Head of the Public Works Department Ling Ling Nugraha Senjaya, Pangandaran Military District Commander Lieutenant Colonel Czi Citra Kurniawan, the Head of the Tourism Department, and the Head of Margacinta Village.
When the bridge structure suddenly gave way, officials and residents who were on the bridge attempted to save themselves and quickly exited the area.
Head of Protocol and Leadership Communication at the Pangandaran Regency Regional Secretariat, Detty Mareta, said the atmosphere of the Pongpet Merah Putih suspension bridge inauguration suddenly changed after the bridge’s sling cable came loose.
Regent Citra Pitriyami was immediately evacuated from the site after previously inspecting and crossing the bridge.
“Mrs Citra Pitriyami experienced shock over the incident and suffered bruising to her hand after being struck by a bridge cable, though it is not worrying. However, Mrs Citra has received treatment after the incident and has returned to her normal activities,” said Detty Mareta on Monday (31/8).
Meanwhile, Pangandaran Military District Commander Lieutenant Colonel Czi Citra Kurniawan said the damage did not occur to the lower frame of the bridge, but rather to the sling cable on the right side which came loose together with its anchor.
According to him, the lower frame of the bridge remained intact. The sling cable on the left side was also still attached. Therefore, the condition was described not as a collapse, but rather as a sagging.
“We openly acknowledge that the incident occurred due to negligence on our part in controlling the number of people crossing the bridge during the inauguration. However, the cause was indeed our mistake from Military District Command 0625 during the inauguration in not controlling the capacity crossing the bridge, and the budget nominal is still undergoing comprehensive calculation, and we promise to accelerate the repair process although it is currently temporarily closed,” he concluded.