Police confirm one dead in 2nd Bridge collapse

Police have confirmed that the victim still trapped under the rubble of a ramp link for to the Second Penang Bridge that collapsed bridge has died.

According to Penang deputy CPO a 43-year-old Malay man was found in the driver’s seat of a Kelisa that has yet to be extricated from the site as the operations is still under way.

The police cannot confirm if there are any further casualties beneath the rubble.

Earlier, the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) issued a stop work order on the construction of the Second Penang Bridge following the collapse of a section under construction last night.

MPPP engineering director Adnan Mohd Razali served the order on main contractor Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd’s project manager and to Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) today.

The order requires the two parties to stop all construction work at the site.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan visiting the site of the accident today said the stop work order will be effective until the contractor ensures the  project is safe.

Lim expressed disappointment with the rescue efforts but blamed the procedures rather than the police or fire department.

He said the authorities need to conduct a post mortem of the accident focussed on two key issues: the reason for the collapse, and the efficiency of rescue procedures.

Two workers and a member of the public in a passing vehicle were injured when a section of the bridge under construction at Batu Maung crossing the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, Penang, collapsed at 7pm yesterday.

To date the police can only confirm one fatality.