A local official confirmed the collapse of the famous iconic arch of Mbawana Beach in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) due to the constant impact of large ocean waves and quakes after the scenes of aftermath went viral on the social media.
This spot 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.
The videos and photographs of the collapsed arch and rocks were first shared on the internet on Wednesday with netizens brooding over the loss of iconic tourist spot famous for its extraordinary sunset views.
“I have not taken a photo there,” one user commented with a crying emoji.
The collapse happened on Tuesday night and netizens were quick to assume that it may have been due to human activity however the official from Southwest Sumba has shared sincere 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 collapse of the natural formation of the rocks may be beyond our understanding but at the same time its a reminder that 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.”