Viral Woman Almost Gets Hit While Taking Photo At Tugu Jogja, City Government Reminds Tourists To Be Careful

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YOGYAKARTA - The Yogyakarta City Government asks all tourists who travel to Yogyakarta to prioritize safety when taking pictures at iconic locations, such as the Yogyakarta Monument, Malioboro Street, and Yogyakarta Kilometer Zero Point.

Head of the Yogyakarta City Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) Agus Winarto responds to a tourist who was almost hit by a vehicle while taking pictures at the Yogyakarta Monument.

"We have often reminded tourists to always be careful, prioritizing safety when taking pictures. The goal is not to injure themselves and others," Agus said in Yogyakarta, reported by Antara, Thursday, March 10.

He said he had seen videos of tourists who were almost hit by a vehicle while taking pictures around Tugu Yogyakarta. However, he could not confirm the time of the incident.

He hopes that all tourists will be wiser when choosing a location to take pictures, and not interfere with the safety and comfort of other residents when capturing tourist moments.

"In addition to being able to harm yourself, this action also clearly disrupts traffic. So, now we are educating tourists that we are asking them to maintain health protocols and public order," he said.

Meanwhile, Yogyakarta Deputy Mayor Heroe Poerwadi said that there had been several incidents of tourists ignoring safety when taking pictures. He appealed to the public to choose a safe location to take pictures.

"Don't take pictures in unsafe places, for example in the middle of the road which is intended for vehicular traffic, because the location is definitely prone to accidents," he said.

If you really want to have a photo with the background of the Yogyakarta Monument, he asks tourists to choose a safe location.

"Or look for other photo angles, for example enough from the pedestrian area with the Tugu background. I think this will be safer than having to go to the middle of the road," he ordered.

The Yogyakarta City Government has even installed a fence around the monument so that no tourists come to the location.

"The monument is right in the middle of a crossroads with heavy traffic conditions. Of course, taking pictures in the middle of the road will be very dangerous. You can get stuck in traffic when the light is green," he said.

Tourists can take pictures in the middle of the road only when the vehicle-free policy is implemented, such as on Jalan Malioboro at certain hours.

"You can take pictures on roads that are free of vehicles, but at the Tugu and Kilometer Zero Point there is no such policy, so automatically taking pictures in the middle of the road is very dangerous," he said.