3 STRUCK BY ROOF FRAME KILLED
Three others injured in incident at building under construction in Prai Industrial Area
THREE workers died while three others were seriously injured when the roof frame of a building under construction in the Prai Industrial Area here collapsed yesterday.
Crane driver P. Kumar, 46, from Simpang Ampat, and Rofi Khan, 32, a Myanmar contract worker died at the scene.
Another Myanmar contract worker, Amir Udin Abol Kasim, 20, died at 6.20pm while being treated at Seberang Jaya Hospital.
The three seriously injured, all in their 30s, included one Indonesian and two Myanmar nationals.
Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the bodies were sent to Seberang Jaya Hospital for post-mortem.
He said the three seriously injured sustained head injuries.
“We have yet to get their identify details and are investigating if they have valid working papers.
“The deaths have been classified as sudden death. The investigation is ongoing.”
He said police would ask the Department of Occupational Safety and Health to conduct checks at the scene to determine if the contractor had abided by rules and regulations.
State Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Mokhtar said firemen found two bodies under the rubble upon arriving at the scene at 4.40pm.
He said the three injured were sent to hospital.
“Initial investigations revealed that the incident happened when the crane driver knocked into one of the pillars, triggering a domino effect that resulted in the collapse of the roof frame.
“There were 30 workers in the area at the time of the incident. They were waiting to return home after completing their shift.”
A security guard said he was shocked when he saw the roof frame falling from a height of 100m.
The man, who only wanted to be known as Sambath, 60, said he ran to the scene to find out what happened.
“It happened at 4.20pm. I heard a group of workers shouting before the roof frame come tumbling down.
“I wanted to get closer, but was stopped by others. It was then the firefighters arrived at the scene.”