BALI, INDONESIA- Five young employees of a resort in Bali tragically lost their lives when a steel cable of a glass lift snapped, causing them to plummet 100 meters down a steep embankment. The victims, two men and three women, were part of the housekeeping staff at the Ayuterra Resort in Ubud district. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Friday when the workers boarded the lift, a popular attraction among Instagram users due to its scenic route up a 35-degree slope.
Two of the victims died at the scene, while the remaining three were rushed to the hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries shortly after. Ketut Suwiarta, a cook at the hotel, reported hearing screams and crashing sounds shortly after the group entered the lift. He immediately rushed to assist the victims and alert the authorities.
The lift, which transports both tourists and workers between the upper sections of the hotel and the resort facilities at ground level, is currently under investigation. Authorities are trying to determine why the cable broke, whether proper safety maintenance was conducted, and why there were no backup measures in place.
The deceased were identified as Ni Luh Superningsih, 20, Kadek Hardiyanti, 24, Kadek Yanti Pradewi, 19, Sang Putu Bayu Adi Krisna, 19, and Wayan Aries Setiawan, 23. The incident has sparked outrage as the families of the victims received compensation of just over $4,000 from the resort, on the condition that they would not pursue legal action against the establishment.
The families of the victims met with Bali’s deputy governor, Cok Ace, over the weekend. Balinese Hindu ceremonies were conducted to cleanse the site and pay respects to the victims. All guests at the resort have been relocated to other accommodations while the investigation continues. Resort owner Linggawati Utomo expressed her condolences to the victims’ families.
Nyoman Suarila, uncle of victim Kadek Hardiyanti, stated that he accepted the terms, expressing his belief in karma. He stated that if the company was at fault, it would face the consequences. He also added that if a technician or similar party was responsible for the incident, they should be held accountable under the law.