Elevator at Instagram-famous luxury Bali resort plummets into ravine, killing five
Balinese police are investigating the catastrophic failure of a lift that left five hotel workers dead at a resort on Friday, 1st September 2023. All five employees who died were from the housekeeping department and their ages ranged between 19 – 24 years. Two died at the scene of the accident whilst the other three died later in hospital.
The accident took place at Ubud’s Ayuterra Resort about 1pm and is believed to have occurred when a cable in the inclined lift carrying the three women and two men snapped, plunging them 100 metres down a steep ravine at the hillside resort.
The elevator runs on a track and transports both tourists and workers between the upper sections of the hotel high up on the ridge and the resort facilities at ground level. It is understood the elevator was a popular Instagram attraction at the resort, offering views over the surrounding landscape.
Surveillance camera footage of the moment of the accident posted by a local media publisher shows the cable-operated lift hurtling down the steep track, which connected the upper section of the hotel to facilities further down the cliffside. It is believed the lift fell about 100m before it crashed on the ground.
Ubud’s police chief, Made Uder, told media: “The steel swing rope was not strong enough to pull the weight upwards, which was quite heavy, and the safety wedge or brake did not function, so the elevator slid downwards at high speed ... As a result, the five elevator passengers died.” The lift is believed to have not had an emergency brake.
The deputy governor of Bali, Cok Ace, told local media he had seen a permit showing that the lift had been declared safe as part of routine inspections in November 2022.
However, Gianyar regency’s police chief, Ketut Widiada, said police were investigating whether a reduction in the number of sling ropes supporting the elevator had caused the accident. In 2019, the lift was filmed operating with the use of three sling ropes, reports the Bali Tribun, but was operating with the use of a single rope at the time of the accident.
Guests at the resort are believed to have been moved to alternative accommodation while investigations are under way.
The owner of Ayuterra Resort has offered to cover the costs of funerals for the victims and will provide compensation to their families, but the payout of about $4,000 each is on the condition they will not take legal action against the resort, reports News Corp.
The accident has cast a spotlight on the safety record and rights of workers on the holiday island, which is visited by close to 300,000 tourists a month.
Source: External
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