Truck overturns as bridge collapses
KUCHING: A bridge at Kampung Segar in Simunjan collapsed yesterday, following a mudslide that hit the area earlier.
At the time of the incident, there was a truck crossing the bridge – the collapse caused the heavy vehicle to plunge into the ditch underneath the structure and overturn.
“The bridge collapsed as it could not hold the load of the truck,” said the secretariat of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee in a statement.
It is believed that the mudslide had compromised the integrity of the structure.
“The Simunjan District Office received a distress call from the public, saying that a mudslide had caused the bridge at Kampung Segar to collapse this afternoon (yesterday),” it said.
The secretariat also said the Civil Defence Force (APM) in Asajaya had informed the district office to report the case to the police, in view of the safety of the road users there.
“The Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak has been informed about the incident.”
Meanwhile, a JKR Sarawak spokesperson said they would monitor the area to ensure the safety of road users and villagers.
Moreover, JKR Sarawak had sent contractors to the site where they would arrange for a temporary route diversion, said the spokesperson.
“We have also ordered CMS Roads Sdn Bhd to build shortterm diversion routes.”