Two Austrian tourists die after falling from suspension bridge at Cunca Wulang waterfall

Two Austrian tourists died after falling from a suspension bridge at Cunca Wulang Waterfall in the Mbeliling Forest area, Manggarai Barat Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Maumere SAR Agency Head Fathur Rahman stated on Monday (25 May) that the incident occurred on Sunday (24 May) around 11:30 AM WITA. The victims, identified as Jurgen, 55, and Astrid, 56, were evacuated by SAR teams to a hospital in Labuan Bajo. ‘Both victims fell while crossing the suspension bridge around 11:30 AM WITA,’ said Fathur Rahman. The bridge spans approximately 50-60 metres in length and 20 metres in height, stretching over rocks and river flow leading to the waterfall. He added that both victims were found deceased and transported by a joint SAR team to Komodo Hospital. Records indicate several accidents have occurred at this waterfall. In April 2016, two Malaysian tourists, Mohamad Azfar bin Tahir, 24, and Mohamad Ezzaq Azraf bin Azumi, 24, along with local guide Wenseslaus Hendro Akung, 39, drowned at the waterfall. In April 2022, a Sumbawa native named Heri Susanto went missing at the site, located about 30 kilometres from Labuan Bajo.