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Police find possible negligence in Banyumas glass bridge incident
The glass flooring on a bridge that shattered at a tourist destination in the Limpakuwus pine forest in Banyumas regency, Central Java, this week measured only 1.2 centimeters in thickness, investigators have found.
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Officers from the Central Java Forensic Laboratory conduct a crime scene investigation at a broken glass bridge in the Limpakuwus pine forest in Sumbang district, Banyumas regency, Central Java, on Oct. 26, 2023. (Antara/Sumarwoto)
T
he Banyumas City Police have discovered that the glass flooring on a bridge that shattered at a tourist destination in the Limpakuwus pine forest in Banyumas regency, Central Java, this week was extremely thin, measuring only 1.2 centimeters.
Comr. Agus Supriadi, head of the criminal investigation unit at the Banyumas City Police, said on Thursday that in addition to the thin glass layer, the on-site investigation had found potential negligence by the management of the bridge at The Geong tourist attraction.
"The workers who conducted the testing lacked expertise in construction. They relied on their experience in the tourism industry," he said.
The investigators found that the bridge had not been properly maintained and that there had been no safety testing. Additionally, there were no safety nets around the bridge, no warning signs and no safety instructions. The ticket attendants also lacked knowledge of visitor safety procedures.
The accident took place on Wednesday, resulting in one death and one injury when the glass bridge shattered beneath a group of visitors.
Four people were on the bridge, taking photos, at the time of the accident, with two others holding onto the bridge's frame.
The incident has added to concerns about safety and sustainability at the country’s tourism destinations
"The government should reconsider building similar tourist attractions," Chusmeru, a tourism expert at Jenderal Soedirman University, said on Thursday.
The government had to prioritize safety in such projects, he cautioned, adding that structures such as glass bridges could also compromise the natural beauty of tourism sites.
