Five killed as elevator plunges at luxury Bali resort

Five workers at a luxury resort in Bali plummeted to their deaths Friday when the cable supporting the hotel’s Instagram-famous glass elevator snapped, sending the employees plunging 300 feet down a ravine.

Two men and three women who were part of the housekeeping staff at the Ayuterra Resort were inside the elevator at about 1 p.m. when the cable snapped.

They have been identified as Kadek Hardiyanti, 24, Sang Putu Bayu Adi Krisna, 19, Ni Luh Supernigsih, 20, I Wayan Aries Setiawan, 23, and Kadek Yanti Pradewi, 19, all from Indonesia.

Two people died on impact, while three died later at the hospital.

The rope pulling the elevator was not strong enough, resulting in it snapping, Ubud Police Chief Police Commissioner Made Uder said, according to The Bali Sun.

“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 so this accident could not be avoided,” he said. “As a result, the five elevator passengers died.”

Bali’s Deputy Governor, Cok Ace, who also is the Chair of the Hotel and Restaurant Association Bali, said he reviewed the safety documents of the hotel following the accident.

“This is the first time this has happened, and if we look at a glance, I saw the permits, especially regarding the use and safety of work, regarding the condition of the lift,” he said.

“From a routine inspection, one independent consultant said that in November 2022 [it was fine], and it has only been 8 months since they stated that it is still [safe] so of course this will be included in the investigation.”

The Instagram-famous lift was used by both tourists and staff between the upper levels of the hotel and down the ravine edge to the facilities on the lower level.

The investigation will be led by the Bali Police, he added.

The resort’s guests have been relocated as the investigation and mourning period is underway.

The resort’s owner, Linggawati Utomo, 60, said he will pay for the funerals of the deceased.

He also reportedly paid the families of the deceased about $4,000 USD to dissuade them from taking legal action against the resort.

Authorities say they are investigating the cause of the accident, as well as why there were no secondary safety mechanisms in place to prevent the elevator from falling all the way down the shaft.