The collapse of the Pongpet Red-and-White Suspension Bridge in Pangandaran and a warning sign erected by the Kodim 0625/Pangandaran (District Military Command).

progresifjaya.co.id, PANGANDARAN – The Pongpet Merah Putih Suspension Bridge in Margajaya Hamlet RT 01/12, Margacinta Village, Cijulang District, Pangandaran Regency, West Java, collapsed during its inauguration ceremony on Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Responding to the incident, the Head of the Indonesian Army Information Service (Kadispenad), Brigjen TNI Donny Pramono stated, that the bridge shifted position, leading to the collapse.

He explained, that this occurred after more than 50 people crossed simultaneously, exceeding the established capacity. Consequently, the bridge became overloaded. Ultimately, the suspension cable on the left side detached from the main anchor, causing the bridge to tilt.

“As reported by various media outlets, the situation was described as a bridge collapse. To clarify the information, the actual event was not a total structural failure or collapse of the entire bridge,” explained Brigjen TNI Donny in a written statement on Monday, August 31, 2026.

He noted, that the bridge’s main structure remained in place; the issue was limited to the left-side suspension cable detaching from the main anchoring system.

Prior to use, the Kodim 0625/Pangandaran had informed the public and installed signage at the bridge site outlining capacity limits and usage rules. One such rule stipulated that a maximum of three people could cross at a time—not the more than 50 people present during the incident.

“However, the residents’ enthusiasm following the inauguration ceremony led to these rules being disregarded. The incident occurred as regional officials (Forkopimda) and the public were moving toward the event site after the ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by the Regent of Pangandaran,” he said. 

Brigjen TNI Donny stated, that following the incident, the Kodim 0625/Pangandaran  in collaboration with the Pangandaran Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR), immediately took action to address the situation.

Currently, the bridge remains closed to the public and is undergoing repairs, as well as a technical evaluation to ensure its safety and suitability for future use.

This evaluation includes inspecting the structural integrity, the cable anchoring system, and the bridge’s maximum load capacity.

“The evaluation results will serve as the basis for confirming that all construction components are safe and for refining future regulations regarding the bridge’s use,” he explained.

The Pongpet Suspension Bridge was constructed by Kodim 0625/Pangandaran as part of an effort to improve access and connectivity for the residents of Margacinta Village and the surrounding areas.

The bridge is expected to support the mobility as well as the social and economic activities of local residents once all repair work is completed.

“The TNI AD ensures that the response is swift and methodical, prioritizing public safety,” he said.

As previously reported, the Pongpet Suspension Bridge in Margacinta Village, Cijulang District, Pangandaran Regency, collapsed while Pangandaran Regent Citra Pitriyami, the District Military Commander (Dandim), and several other officials were inaugurating it.

Circulating video footage shows Regent Citra Pitriyami, the Dandim 0625 Pangandaran, and other officials standing on the bridge.

Suddenly, a section of the bridge failed, causing several people on it to fall. Fortunately, everyone in the group survived.

Kapolsek of Cijulang, Iptu Dimas Aditama stated, that there were no fatalities in the incident, all officials present were safe.

“Officers immediately secured the site. Alhamdulilah, there were no fatalities, and the situation remains safe and orderly,” said Iptu Dimas. (Bembo)