Fell from the Balcony of Room 5101

Tragedy struck a guest family at Hotel Mesra on Jalan Pahlawan, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Wednesday morning (14/10/2026). A three-year-old girl identified only as RK died after falling from the balcony of room 5101 on the hotel's fifth floor at around 8:30 a.m. WITA.

Samarinda Ulu Police Chief AKP Asriadi confirmed the incident. "It is true that this morning, Wednesday, 14 October 2026, at 8:30 a.m., an incident occurred in which a minor fell from a hotel in Samarinda, resulting in the victim's death," Asriadi said.

3-Year-Old Dies Falling from 5th-Floor Balcony at Samarinda Hotel
Illustration of a hotel with balconies on each floor. Not a photo of the incident. Photo: Pexels. (Source: pexels.com)

Parents at Breakfast, Balcony Door Unlocked

When the incident happened, RK was inside the room with her younger sibling. Both parents were having breakfast at the hotel restaurant. The father reportedly rushed to the scene after hearing screams from outside the hotel.

A preliminary police examination found the door leading to the balcony open and unlocked. "Yes, the balcony door was indeed unlocked, open," Asriadi said. The victim was found lying in a ditch in the hotel courtyard with serious head injuries.

Crime Scene Examination and Awaiting Autopsy

The Samarinda Ulu Police together with the Samarinda Police forensic team examined the scene at around 9:30 a.m. WITA. The toddler's body was taken to Abdoel Wahab Sjahranie (AWS) Regional Hospital in Samarinda at 10:18 a.m. WITA for an initial examination.

Police have not yet taken formal statements from the parents, given the family's still-shaken psychological condition. Investigators are also awaiting the official autopsy results from the medical team, and evidence around the scene has been secured. East Kalimantan Police public relations head Kombes Tedy Sopandi stressed that the exact cause is still under investigation.

Hotel Safety Under Scrutiny

Hotel safety is now under scrutiny. The balcony area has guardrails as well as written warnings prohibiting guests from standing near the railing or sitting on it. Hotel Mesra management representative Saparudin said warning signs are posted around the railing and behind the door, asking that children remain under parental supervision.

The Borneo Kalimantan Consumer Protection NGO (LPKSM) has urged a comprehensive safety audit of the hotel. Its chairman, M. Irfan Fajrianur, cited Law Number 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection, which guarantees consumers' right to safety and security.