Indonesian Farmer Suffers Broken Leg Due to Tangled WiFi Cable, Residents Frustrated by Lack of Action

A farmer in Jembrana, Bali, Indonesia, suffered a severe injury, including a broken right leg, after his motorcycle became entangled with a haphazardly hanging WiFi cable on a public road. The incident highlights the lax management of internet network cables and their impact on residents' lives. The accident occurred on Saturday (August 1, 2026) on the Denpasar-Gilimanuk road. I Ngurah Putu Oka, the victim, was transporting coconut sap when his motorcycle collided with a cable stretched low across the road, causing him to lose control and fall. Oka sustained a broken right leg, and his motorcycle was also damaged. According to Oka's son, I Komang Pande Suartawan (36), his father, who is a coconut sap farmer and supplies local eateries, may lose his livelihood due to the permanent injury. He now faces the possibility of being unable to work again. Suartawan expressed strong dissatisfaction with the slow and uncooperative response from the cable provider. Initially, the provider offered a meager compensation of Rp 500,000 (approximately $33 USD) and has shown little subsequent engagement. He also criticized the delayed processing of his police report, noting that a formal summons for the provider was only issued after several days, coinciding with his efforts to complete social security paperwork. This incident underscores a broader issue across Indonesia where infrastructure management, particularly for telecommunication cables, is often inadequate. In many areas, especially urban and tourist destinations, overhead cables are left unmanaged, detracting from the scenery and posing significant safety risks. Residents are calling for better cable management and swift, fair compensation in the event of accidents. Source: Detik