Two Austrian Tourists Killed at Cunca Wulang, Labuan Bajo Infrastructure Under Scrutiny
The tourism world of Labuan Bajo is in mourning. Two Austrian tourists died after falling from a collapsed wooden bridge at the Cunca Wulang waterfall area in Cunca Wulang village, Mbeliling subdistrict, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday (24 May).
The tragedy has drawn sharp criticism over the poor maintenance and safety negligence of infrastructure at this super-priority tourism destination.
The victims, identified as Astrid, 56, and Jurgen, 54, a married couple, were enjoying the natural scenery with their group. The incident began when they crossed the wooden bridge, the main access point to the area. The lower supports of the bridge reportedly snapped, causing the structure to collapse.
Both victims were dragged down to a rocky riverbed approximately 10 metres deep. The severe impact with large boulders caused their deaths at the scene. A joint team from the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Search and Rescue (SAR), and medical personnel swiftly evacuated the site after receiving reports from panicked locals and tourists.
According to Labuan Bajo Class II Immigration data, the victims entered Indonesia on 14 May 2026 via I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, using a Visa on Arrival for tourism purposes.
The tragedy has sparked harsh criticism over public facility maintenance at Cunca Wulang. Locals reported the wooden bridge had long been in poor condition. Despite repair proposals submitted since 2022, no action has been taken by relevant authorities.
West Manggarai Deputy Regent Yulianus Weng confirmed the area is a regional government asset. The government is currently focused on humanitarian efforts and coordination with the Austrian Embassy.
‘Upon receiving the report, we immediately coordinated with Polri, SAR, immigration, and hospitals for initial assistance. Our primary focus is on the victims,’ said Yulianus on Sunday (24 May).
In response to safety criticism, Yulianus assured a comprehensive review of all land-based tourist destinations in Manggarai Barat. ‘We do not want similar incidents in the future. A thorough assessment of infrastructure will be conducted,’ he stated.
Head of Labuan Bajo Class II Immigration Office Charles Christian Mathaus confirmed coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Austrian representatives for repatriating the bodies.
The Cunca Wulang tragedy serves as a stark reminder to policymakers that national super-priority destinations must uphold robust infrastructure safety standards, not just promote natural beauty.