Jembatan Terbang Di Probolinggo Ambruk, 40 Siswa Dan 1 Guru Falls Pembebas Ke Sungai, PUPR Bebewarkan Biang Keladinya

The suspension bridge connecting Pajarakan Village with Kregenan Village in Probolinggo collapsed on Friday, September 9. (Dok Diskominfo Probolinggo Regency)

PROBOLINGGO - Head of the Probolinggo Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR) Office, Hengki Cahjo Saputra, revealed that the building's inability to withstand the load is suspected to be the cause of the suspension bridge breaking in Kregenan Village.

"Many students of SMPN 1 Pajarakan took a leisurely walk through the suspension bridge which caused the overload, so that the hook of the bridge at the end of the bridge was broken," Hengki said in a written statement, quoted from Antara, Friday, September 9.

The suspension bridge connecting Pajarakan Kulon Village, Pajarakan District, with Kregenan Village in Kraksaan District, collapsed on Friday, September 9. As a result, 40 students and one teacher fell freely into the river.

The incident resulted in 14 students and one teacher having to get health treatment at the Waluyo Jati Kraksaan Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

"When they were on the bridge, students who passed the bridge gathered and shook the bridge and the burden on the bridge was also excessive," he said.

According to Hengki, at the time of the incident the burden borne by the bridge was indeed off the line. He said about 36 students access the bridge at the same time and if one child weighs 50 kilograms then there is already a burden of 1.8 tons.

If the 1.8 tonne load is in the middle of the distance with a span of 20 meters, then 10 meters divided to the right and left, then almost 3.6 tons at the same time.

"If that is added with a shake, the load could be 7 to 10 tons, so the bridge was unable and collapsed due to the overload. If the suspension bridge usually runs static, if you are silent, it will certainly increase the burden on the bridge," he said.

As a result of the collapse of the suspension bridge, he continued, the condition of the bridge on the east side of the river, the foundation and blocks of poer and the pilon fell into the river, while the west side of the river, iron angker or hooks the weight of the bridge broke.

"For handling the east side, it is necessary to rebuild the angker block, foundation and pilon of the bridge. For the west side, the construction of the angker block will be rebuilt. For the celling cable and the bridge floor, it also needs to be updated," he said.

He explained that the handling was still carried out by the PUPR Service and the improvements would still be held with the Probolinggo Regency BPBD due to the main task force of BPBD.

"Hopefully in the near future, improvements can be made to replace the suspension bridge and hopefully from the results of the coordination meeting, we can use BTT funds (Unexpected Shopping) in the near future for repairs," he said.

Hengky said PUPR would conduct an assessment for other suspension bridges in Probolinggo Regency. He said, if an assessment is detected, there must be an improvement, it will be followed up immediately so that similar incidents in Kregenan Village do not happen again.

"I urge the public if they cross the suspension bridge, they must walk and don't stop or be silent, especially when they are shaken because it is very dangerous," he said.