Two Austrian tourists die at Cunca Wulang as locals and regency hold Congko Wakar ritual
The Manggarai Barat Regency government held a traditional Congko Wakar ritual at Cunca Wulang natural tourism area on Tuesday (26 May) following an incident that killed two Austrian tourists several days earlier. The ritual was conducted as a gesture of respect for the victims and to pray that similar tragedies do not recur at the site.
The traditional ceremony took place in a solemn and quiet atmosphere. Led by Tua Adat (village elder) Thomas Pura of Wersawe village, the ritual involved local government officials, district police, village authorities, and community members.
The ritual began at Compang Adat Wersawe, a traditional altar. There, Thomas Pura offered eggs and lit candles as a sign of seeking ancestral permission before proceeding to the waterfall area. ‘Seeking ancestral permission is necessary to ensure the proceedings go smoothly,’ Thomas said.
The group then moved to the site where the two victims fell. At the location, the ritual continued with a white rooster and lit candles. According to Thomas, the white rooster symbolises purity and sincerity of heart.
‘I explained that the Congko Wakar ritual serves to peacefully guide the victims’ spirits back to their place of origin. Additionally, it is a collective prayer for Cunca Wulang tourism area to be spared from similar tragedies in the future,’ Thomas added.
The two Austrian tourists who died in the incident were identified as Jurgen (55) and Astrid (56). They perished after falling from a wooden bridge at Cunca Wulang when several planks reportedly collapsed.
Police have cordoned off the scene for investigation purposes. However, the Manggarai Barat Regency government was permitted to hold the traditional ritual on condition that they did not enter the core crime scene area.
Peter A. Rasyid, Head of the Manggarai Barat Tourism, Creative Economy, and Culture Office, stated that the ritual was conducted after coordination with law enforcement authorities. ‘The area is still under investigation, so we ensured the traditional ceremony was carried out without disturbing the police-cordoned zone,’ Peter said.
Alongside the Tourism Office officials, the ritual was attended by Mbeliling District police, Cunca Wulang Village authorities, and local residents. The local government hopes the Cunca Wulang tourism area can recover and be safe for visitors again following the tragedy.