A newly inaugurated suspension bridge in Pangandaran, West Java, gave way while a group of officials and residents were crossing it on Sunday afternoon, 30 August 2026. Pangandaran Regent Citra Pitriyami sustained bruises in the incident, while no deaths were reported.
The Merah Putih Bridge, also known as the Pongpet Suspension Bridge, is located in Margajaya Hamlet, Margacinta Village, Cijulang District, Pangandaran Regency. The incident occurred at around 4.10pm Western Indonesian Time (WIB), shortly after the bridge’s inauguration ceremony had concluded.
Video footage circulating on social media shows a group of people crossing the newly inaugurated bridge when part of the structure suddenly gave way. Several people fell as the bridge shifted beneath them, prompting those nearby to move away from the affected section.
Cijulang Sector Police Chief First Inspector (Iptu) Dimas Aditama said everyone at the scene survived the incident and that there were no fatalities.
“Officers immediately secured the location. Thankfully, there were no fatalities, and the situation remains safe and orderly,” he confirmed on Monday, 31 August 2026, as cited by RRI.
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Indonesian Army Clarifies Bridge Did Not Fully Collapse
The Indonesian Army (TNI AD) later clarified that reports describing the incident as a complete collapse of the Pongpet Suspension Bridge were inaccurate.
Head of the Army Information Service Brigadier General Donny Pramono said the main structure of the bridge remained standing. According to him, the incident involved a suspension cable on the left side of the bridge becoming detached from its main anchoring system.
“Several media outlets reported the incident as a bridge ‘collapse.’ To set the record straight, what occurred was not a collapse of the entire bridge structure,” Donny told Kompas.com on Monday, 31 August 2026.
“The bridge’s main structure remained in place; the issue was limited to a suspension cable on the left side that detached from the primary anchoring system,” he added.
Donny also said the incident occurred after more than 50 people crossed the bridge at the same time.
Following the incident, joint security personnel secured the area and restricted public access to the bridge. Residents were prevented from crossing while authorities assessed its condition and investigated what caused the suspension cable to detach.
The incident took place immediately after the bridge was officially inaugurated, with officials and local residents among those crossing it.
The presence of a large number of people on the bridge has prompted discussion about whether the number of people crossing at once contributed to the incident. However, authorities have not confirmed this as the cause pending a technical assessment.
Bridge Serves Local Residents
The Pongpet Suspension Bridge is an important access route for residents of Margacinta Village and provides access towards the Margacinta Cultural Village area.
The bridge measures approximately 60 metres in length and was constructed using steel suspension cables with a wooden plank deck. Its location connects areas used by residents and visitors travelling through the village.
Authorities have yet to announce the final findings of the technical inspection or determine whether any structural or construction-related factors contributed to the incident. Public access remains restricted as officials continue to assess the bridge and its safety.
The incident has also drawn attention because it occurred on the same day the bridge was inaugurated. Further details regarding the bridge’s construction, safety assessment and the circumstances surrounding the detached suspension cable are expected to emerge following the technical investigation.
Cover: TribunJabar
