Two Foreign Tourists Die After Falling from Labuan Bajo Suspension Bridge
Foreign tourists Jurgen Perjul (55) and Astrid Perjul (57) died after falling from a 20-metre-high suspension bridge at the Cunca Wulang Waterfall area in Mbeliling District, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The waterfall is one of the popular natural tourist destinations in Labuan Bajo.
Tour guide Muhammad Muhardin (30) recounted the moments when Jurgen and Astrid fell from the suspension bridge. They plummeted onto large rocks after the wooden planks supporting the bridge gave way.
“They were walking side by side, smiling warmly towards the camera. They asked me to take a video from behind as they crossed the bridge,” Muhardin said in Labuan Bajo on Sunday, 24 May 2026.
Jurgen and Astrid arrived at the Cunca Wulang Waterfall tourist area around 9:20 am WITA, accompanied by their private driver, Julius Mam (45). After completing administrative registration at the ticket booth, the two tourists began trekking to the waterfall under Muhardin’s guidance.
Upon reaching the high suspension bridge spanning the rocky river, the victims intended to capture a short video of their moment together. They handed their mobile phones to Muhardin and requested he film from behind.
After walking approximately 10 metres across the suspension bridge, Muhardin said the wooden structure supporting their feet suddenly broke. A loud noise, like a large tree falling, was heard. Muhardin witnessed the tourists fall and hit the large rocks.
“Suddenly, there was a very loud cracking sound like a big tree branch falling. Within seconds, the entire bridge collapsed,” Muhardin said.
“I saw them fall freely downward and immediately strike the large river rocks at the bottom of the ravine,” he added.
Muhardin immediately ran back to the ticket booth to seek help from local residents. Shortly after, a joint search and rescue (SAR) team arrived at the scene to evacuate the foreign tourists.
The evacuation of Jurgen and Astrid’s bodies was dramatic. The joint SAR team had to navigate the treacherous, narrow terrain of the Cunca Wulang River, which was strewn with slippery rocks.
The bodies were eventually transported to Komodo Regional Hospital in Labuan Bajo. Meanwhile, police have cordoned off the incident site.
“Our top priority immediately after the incident was to evacuate the victims and secure the crime scene to preserve the integrity of physical evidence and maintain the status quo,” said Manggarai Barat Police Chief AKBP Christian Kadang.
The suspension bridge that claimed the lives of the two foreign tourists is the access route to Cunca Wulang Waterfall. The tourist destination, managed by the West Manggarai Tourism, Creative Economy, and Culture Agency, is approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Labuan Bajo.