Search and Rescue Teams in Bali have recovered the body of a woman who was spotted having fallen from a cliff top in Uluwatu.
The woman, whose identity remains unknown, is believed to be a foreigner in Bali. Police are now investigating the case.
In an operation that took place on 9th January 2024, a joint Search and Rescue mission successfully recovered the woman’s body from a dangerous, precarious position at the bottom of the cliff.
Speaking to reporters, Nyoman Sidakarya explained to reporters, “The initial information was received by the Denpasar Search and Rescue office around 10.20 a.m. Bali time from Badung’s Balawista tourism post.”
“Due to the extreme conditions, they requested our assistance for the evacuation. The cliff’s height is estimated to be around 68 meters above sea level.”
The rescue mission took around 90 minutes and required a careful descent by rescuers who were lowered down the cliffside using ropes.
A total of twelve officers were involved in the rescue mission, in addition to support from Bali Baliwsata, police, and local community security teams. The woman had fallen from the cliff top close to the Uluwatu Temple Kecak Amphitheatre.
The woman’s body was then taken using the RKI Yayasan Baitul Hidayah Ungasan ambulance to Prof. Ngoerah General Hospital.
According to local reports based on initial observations, the woman was only wearing a black bikini with open wounds on her body and is suspected of having a broken right leg. “This unidentified body is now under the authority of the hospital.”
It was confirmed separately by the Head of Uluwatu Village, Made Sumerta, that the woman had also been wearing the purple sarong given to tourists who are visiting the temple.
Sumerta explained to reporters, “The chronology of the incident is not yet clear. However, what is clear is that the victim was wearing a cloth that is used by every visitor in the [tourism] area outside the Pura Luhur Uluwatu. Those are the characteristics.”
“So, it is reasonable to suspect that she fell there. Because the cloth used is a cloth that is usually worn by every visitor, namely a purple kamen.”
He added, “We don’t know yet whether the victim slipped, was afraid of heights, or what we don’t know yet. It’s not clear yet; still waiting for more information. We hope that visitors don’t get too close to the edge of the cliff just to find a place to take a selfie.”
Sumerta confirmed that a cleaning ceremony will be held at the site to cleanse the area, as is custom in Balinese Hindu culture.
He concluded, “The follow-up, such as a ceremony, will definitely be there; we will definitely mecaru and then ngulapin. A maximum of three days after the incident, we will carry out a cleansing ceremony at the location in a spiritual way.”
Sumerta told reporters that he will be calling on the local government to immediately implement a provincial insurance policy for tourists.
He noted that while he hopes any kind of insurance policy would not require tourists to make a claim, a provincially managed tourist insurance policy would help provide protection for tourists.
Government-managed tourist insurance policies are already in place in top destinations around the world. In late 2024, the Tanzanian government introduced a mandatory tourist insurance policy that all international tourists have to pay for prior to their arrival at the country’s most popular vacation resort, Zanzibar Island.
The three-month insurance policy costs USD 44 and offers tourists comprehensive insurance in the event of medical emergencies, evacuations, and repatriations.
Uluwatu Temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bali and has been named among the best tourist attractions in all of Indonesia. In December, the temple complex won big at the Indonesia 2024 Proud Tourism Awards tourism awards.
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