Workers dash out to safety seconds before canteen block collapses
KUCHING: Two workers emerged unscathed after an abandoned canteen block at SK Siol Kanan here, where they were at, collapsed yesterday afternoon.
Hijrah Samawi, 36, said she was sweeping the floor when she heard a loud crack, which prompted her and co-worker Dijana Mohamad, 28, to dash out of the building.
“I heard a loud ‘ prak’ sound. Without thinking much, I quickly ran away from the building because I had a bad feeling that it would collapse.
“And really, it did collapse. Thank God, I made it out unscathed,” she said when met at the scene.
According to her, the canteen block had been closed for a month under the order of the school authorities, in view of its dire condition that needed urgent repair works.
“Fortunately, the incident happened at 12.45pm after the pupils had all left because the school was holding its sports day in the morning. The situation could have been much worse,” added Hijrah.
Meanwhile, Dijana said she was washing plates near the block when she heard the loud crack.
“I saw Hijrah running, and I also panicked. I ran as far as I could, away from the building,” she said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman from Fire and Rescue Department here said only the school canteen block was destroyed in the incident.
He added that the department had disconnected the electrical power connection to the affected building to avoid other damage.
“The affected area is now being cordoned off. For public information, the Kuching District Education Office and SK Siol Kanan had ordered the building to be closed (from being used) for any activity for one month for fear of public safety.
“The school authorities had also written to Public Works Department (JKR) before this, to have the defects on the building checked,” said the spokesman in a statement.
When met, a school worker also said the school had applied to have the canteen block repaired and was waiting for the works contract to be tendered out.
SK Siol Kanan, which is divided into morning and afternoon sessions, has 875 pupils including those going for pre- school classes, as well as 59 teachers and eight non-academic staff members.