The iconic sea arch of Mbawana Beach in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) recently collapsed due to impacts of large ocean waves and quakes, a local official said, as scenes of the aftermath widely circulated on social media.
The spot, located in Southwest Sumba regency, is a popular tourist attraction, and is commonly referred to as “Batu Cincin” or “Batu Bolong,” which are Indonesian for “ring rock” or “rock with hole,” respectively.
Photos and videos showing the collapsed arch and fallen rocks were first shared on Wednesday, and were met with netizens brooding over the loss of an iconic spot known for its extraordinary sunset views.
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“I have not taken a photo there,” one user commented with a crying emoji.
A sad news from Sumba Island. The “Batu Bolong” at Bwana Beach, Southwest Sumba, was destroyed yesterday by large waves and continuously quake. Ah, never be the same sunset again in Sumba. 😭 pic.twitter.com/iRH6s9HWVE
— Alex Journey (@alexjourneyID) November 18, 2020
The arch reportedly collapsed on Tuesday night, and though some netizens were quick to assume that it was caused by human activity, an official from Southwest Sumba has since offered an explanation.
“[It was caused] by waves, from the southern sea. And there have been many quakes in the area, which accelerated [the collapse],” Nyoman Agus S, head of Southwest Sumba’s Tourism Agency, said.
The natural rock formation may have collapsed due to reasons beyond our control, but it’s a good reminder of how nothing lasts forever. Caswan Assegaf, the Instagram user and travel blogger who posted the video above, also noted on his caption: “Though this might be caused by nature, it’s still important for us as human beings, wherever we are, to take care of nature.”
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