Penang Building Collapse: 3 Dead, 2 Injured & 4 Feared Trapped Under Debris
Rescuers are still searching for four missing workers as of this morning, 29 November.
By May Vin Ang — 29 Nov 2023, 10:25 AM
Police have confirmed that three people died and two others seriously injured after a building under construction in Penang collapsed last night, 28 November
According to New Straits Times, deputy state police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said two victims died at the scene, while another died at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the two critically injured victims are being treated at Penang Hospital.
All the victims are Bangladeshi nationals who were working at the construction site in Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas.
"Based on initial reports, there were 18 construction workers at the site. However, nine of them went to perform prayers," said Mohamed Usuf.
The building collapsed when a 12m-long beam, weighing about 14 tonnes, fell from a height of 20m
The beam knocked over 14 other beams, which on the nine workers at the site, trapping them beneath the rubble.
Mohamed Usuf said the police received a distress call at about 9.45pm last night, and the first victim pulled out of the collapsed building at about 10pm.
Rescuers are still looking for four missing workers who may be buried under the collapsed structure
Penang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Zulfahmi Sutaji said rescue efforts were hampered by the sheer weight of debris at the site.
"Our difficulty is that these are extremely heavy concrete structures, so we need the help of heavy and hydraulic machineries to access the site.
"We also roped in the help from the K9 unit," he said, adding that the search area was large, measuring the size of a basketball court.
Mohamed Usuf told reporters this morning, 29 November, that the search and rescue operation would continue until all the victims had been located.
