The couple fell 20 meters when a suspension bridge at Cunca Wulang Waterfall gave way. Authorities are now examining retribution fees and safety failures.
LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia – More than a week after a suspension bridge collapsed at a popular waterfall in eastern Indonesia, the bodies of two Austrian tourists remain at a hospital morgue in Labuan Bajo, awaiting repatriation as police investigate whether negligence played a role in their deaths.
Jurgen Perjul, 55, and Astrid Perjul, 57, were crossing a suspension bridge approximately 20 meters above the ground at Cunca Wulang Waterfall on May 24 when the structure gave way. Both fell and were killed.
The bridge, according to police investigators, was rotten and unfit for use.
But more than a week later, the couple’s bodies have not been moved.
“The bodies are still in the morgue at Komodo General Hospital,” said Aipda Fransiskus Jelahu, Subsection Head of Public Relations at the Manggarai Barat Police, on Friday.
Repatriation, officials say, is awaiting coordination with the Austrian Embassy in Jakarta. The embassy, in turn, is awaiting confirmation from the victims’ family in Austria.
“From the embassy, they have communicated with the hospital. They are still waiting for confirmation from the family,” said Paulus Ndarung, Acting Director of Komodo General Hospital.
A Fatal Crossing
The couple was visiting Cunca Wulang Waterfall, one of the mainland attractions near Labuan Bajo—the town best known as the gateway to Komodo National Park. The journey from Labuan Bajo to the waterfall takes approximately 90 minutes by road.
According to police, the Perjuls were crossing the suspension bridge to reach the waterfall when it collapsed.
An investigation later revealed the bridge was in a state of severe disrepair.
Wood had rotted.
The structure was no longer safe.
But tourists were still crossing.
Police Examine Retribution Fees
Investigators from the Manggarai Barat Police Criminal Investigation Unit are now looking beyond the bridge itself.
They are tracing the flow of retribution fees—official entry fees collected from every visitor to the waterfall.
According to police, there is a noticeable gap between what tourists pay and what they receive in return.
“Investigators have detected an imbalance between the collection of retribution fees from tourists and the maintenance of safety facilities,” said AKBP Christian Kadang, Chief of Manggarai Barat Police, in a statement on Thursday.
The fees, police say, flow to two destinations: the treasury of the Manggarai Barat Tourism Office and the village government of Cunca Wulang.
What tourists did not receive, according to police, were basic safety measures.
“Ironically, basic safety facilities have been neglected,” Christian said.
“There are no warning signs at dangerous points. The management also does not provide accident insurance for tourists.”
Evidence and Witnesses
Police have seized documents including visitor registration books and files related to the management of the tourism area.
Five witnesses have already been questioned:
- The head of Cunca Wulang Village, as the local authority
- The ticket retribution officer
- A local tour guide who was accompanying the victims
- The driver of the victims’ rental car
- A local police officer who first secured the scene after the incident
Investigators have also scheduled clarifications with relevant government agencies at the Manggarai Barat regency level—the offices responsible for the management and oversight of safety at Cunca Wulang Waterfall.
“We will not stop at examining witnesses in the field,” Christian said.
What This Means for Travelers
For international tourists visiting Labuan Bajo, the incident raises uncomfortable questions about safety standards at natural attractions outside Bali’s more developed tourism ecosystem.
Cunca Wulang Waterfall is not a remote or secret destination. It is promoted as one of the mainland’s premier attractions. Yet according to police, the bridge that collapsed was rotten. Warning signs were absent. Accident insurance was not provided.
The investigation is still ongoing. No charges have been filed. But police are examining whether criminal negligence played a role.
For travelers, the incident serves as a reminder that infrastructure standards can vary significantly between different parts of Indonesia. What is considered safe in one regency may not meet the same standard in another.
Waiting for Answers
As of Friday, the Perjuls’ bodies remain in Labuan Bajo.
The Austrian Embassy has not yet announced a timeline for repatriation.
The family in Austria is still deciding.
And investigators in Manggarai Barat continue their work—tracing fees, examining documents, and asking why a rotten bridge was still carrying tourists.
