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Google Maps led two tour buses into forest, stranded passengers
Two tour buses carrying 80 passengers from Surabaya became stranded in a forest near Wonogiri, Indonesia after following Google Maps navigation directions to a beach destination on 29 December 2024. The application routed the vehicles onto an impassable extreme terrain road where residents had to help the buses reverse approximately 1 kilometre to escape. Local officials reported this was a recurring issue at the location.
29 December 2024 · Google Maps · Safety and wellbeing
Two tour buses from Surabaya carrying 80 passengers followed Google Maps directions to Pantai Klayar, Kabupaten Pacitan at around 05:00 WIB on 29 December 2024.
The buses entered an extreme terrain road in the Tunggangan Forest area, Desa Ngelo, Kecamatan Jatiroto, Wonogiri. The drivers realised the route was impassable and stopped the buses at the Watu Dukun area.
Residents assisted the buses in reversing approximately 1 kilometre to enable them to turn around and exit the forest.
Reported impact
80 tour passengers on two buses were stranded in an extreme terrain forest area.
The village head noted this was a recurring incident at that location since a bus became lost there in 2019.
Index analysis
Google Maps provided navigation directions that routed vehicles onto an extremely steep and narrow forest road unsuitable for tour buses, despite the destination being a beach location.