TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Tirtosari Waterfall in Magetan Regency, East Java is closed temporarily after a huge rock fell onto three tourists on Sunday, July 3, killing one. The waterfall is closed by the Lawu and Surrounding Forest Management Unit (KPH Lawu DS).

Head of the Sarangan Forest Management Resort (KRPH), KPH Lawu DS, Supriyanto, said on Monday that the closure is to allow officers to investigate the area, particularly the place from where the rock, 60 centimeters in diameter, fell and hit the three tourists. The closure is also to prevent possibilities of similar incidents that could harm visitors.

According to Supriyanto, there were no traces of avalanches. "Perhaps, before it fell, the rock was situated between roots and other rocks."

The Plaosan Police chief, Adj. Comr. Joko Yuhono, said that the rock-fall was an incident purely caused by natural factors, considering Tirtosari Waterfall is situated between cliffs on the slopes of Mount Lawu. "The rock fell off the cliff and ended up hitting tourists," he said.

The incident killed 26-year old Anggita A.Y. from Subang, West Java. Two of her friends, I Wayan Krisna (21) from Probolinggo, East Java and Binarti Fauziah (26) from Bandung, West Java, were injured. The three of them were part of a seven-tourist group from PT Telkom, Pasuruan.

Nofika Dian Nugroho (Contributor)

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