Indonesian tourist bridge collapses, five killed

JAKARTA, Oct 25: Five people were killed and 24 injured when a pedestrian bridge packed with sightseers collapsed today in a scenic Indonesian tourist area on central Java island, police said.

The collapse of the steel bridge sent people hurtling down to the rocky river bed below, Baturaden police chief Sudrajat said.

Batudaren, around 300 km east of the capital Jakarta, is located on the slopes of Gunung Slamet volcano and is popular in the tropical country for its cool climate.

The incident comes in the middle of the peak Muslim holiday period this week when Indonesians hold Eid al-Fitr festivities to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

REUTERS