Three Bangladeshi construction workers were killed, two sustained critical injuries and four others feared buried under the rubble after a under construction logistics warehouse collapsed at Batu Maung area in Malaysia`s Penang state on Tuesday night.
The details about the victims could not be known immediately.
Bayan Baru Fire and Rescue Station operations head Azrul Khairi Abu Bakar said his station received a call at 9.58pm and mobilised personnel from his station to the scene of the incident and they were assisted by Seri Balik Pulau and Jalan Perak stations.
“Upon arrival at the location, we were informed that there were 18 workers on duty at the construction site, but nine workers had left the construction site for a break while nine were believed to be buried in the rubble."
The fire service personnel recovered two bodies and rescued three injured persons. The injured were sent to Penang Hospital for treatment, he said.
Penang deputy police chief Datuk Mohamad Usuf Jan Mohamad said two of the victims died at the site of the incident while another died at the hospital.
Mohamad Usuf added that two workers who were seriously injured were sent to the Penang Hospital for treatment while four others are believed to have been buried under the rubble and that search and rescue efforts were being carried out by the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).
“During the incident, the workers were working under a 12-metre beam that weighed about 14 tonnes. The beam later collapsed over the workers and piled up over other beams there. Two of them died at the site while another died at the Penang Hospital,” he said during a press conference held at the site.
Mohamad Usuf said cranes were being used to lift the fallen structure so that the search and rescue team can start looking for victims trapped under the rubble.
Meanwhile, Penang JBPM deputy director Zulfahmi Sutaji said the collapsed area was as big as a basketball court and that cranes and other equipment were being used to lift the fallen structures.
Zulfahmi said the K9 dog unit would be called in to assist in the search and rescue operation if needed.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Consulate Datuk Shaik Ismail Allaudin who arrived at the site said they were still waiting to gather details of the victims involved in the tragedy.
“Right now we cannot issue any statement before knowing any information officially. I have asked the contractor to provide details of the victims. Although we know they are from Bangladesh, we need documents to identify before making any statements,” he said.
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