PHOTO: Ayuterra Resort
Five young hotel employees lost their lives when a steel lift cable suddenly snapped at a luxurious Bali resort, causing them to plummet 100 meters down a steep embankment. This tragic incident occurred at the Ayuterra Resort in the Ubud district, where two men and three women employed in the housekeeping department entered a famous glass lift featured on Instagram. The lift, situated on a 35-degree slope, was set in motion at 1 pm on a Friday.
The victims have been identified as Ni Luh Superningsih (20), Kadek Hardiyanti (24), Kadek Yanti Pradewi (19), Sang Putu Bayu Adi Krisna (19), and Wayan Aries Setiawan (23). Two of the individuals succumbed to their injuries at the accident scene, while the remaining three were rushed to the hospital but tragically passed away shortly after arrival.
Ketut Suwiarta, a cook at the hotel, recounted hearing screams shortly after the group entered the elevator, followed by the horrifying sounds of a crash. He quickly went to aid the victims and alerted the authorities. The elevator, which operates on a track, serves both tourists and staff, transporting them between the upper sections of the hotel high on the ridge and the resort’s ground-level facilities. This elevator had become a popular Instagram attraction due to its breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
An investigation by the police is underway to determine why the cable failed, whether proper safety maintenance had been conducted, and why there were no backup safety measures in place. Over the weekend, the families of the victims met with Bali’s deputy governor, Cok Ace, during Balinese Hindu ceremonies held to cleanse the site and offer blessings to the departed souls.
Five hotel works have tragically died after a steel lift cable snapped at a Bali resort
Resort owner Linggawati Utomo extended her condolences to the families and pledged to cover all funeral and burial expenses while providing compensation to the bereaved.
Police Commissioner Made Uder, the Ubud Police Chief, stated that this tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for all hotels and businesses on the island. He explained that the steel cable could not bear the weight, and the safety features, such as the wedge or brake, failed to function, resulting in the elevator rapidly descending, leading to this unavoidable accident. Notably, an independent consultant had reportedly inspected the elevator as recently as November 2022 and declared it to be in operational condition.
SOURCE: THE DAILY MAIL