Collapse victim expected to be extricated this afternoon

The search and rescue team expects to extricate the victim trapped in a car at the collapsed interchange ramp of the Penang Second Bridge at Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu in Batu Maung Friday afternoon.

State Police deputy chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said the team was waiting for the machine to cut the collapsed steel girders into pieces to extricate the victim.

"A total of 350 personnel and officers from the police, firemen, Civil Defence Department (JPAM), construction workers and contractors are working hard to remove the concrete and steel," he told reporters at the scene here.

Abdul Rahim said the Fire and Rescue Department, using a special camera, found that at least one victim in a green Kelisa car was trapped under the rubble.

However, he said, the identity and gender of the victim could not be ascertained yet as they only saw parts of the body.

"The victim also did not respond to our call, perhaps, in critical condition," he added.

He urged those with family members missing since yesterday to lodge a police report.

"Some people say there were several cars and motorcycles trapped in the incident, but at the moment, we only found one car, but could not get its full registration number as the plate number is broken. The numbers seen is 437," he said.

Abdul Rahim said the search and rescue operations started more than 12 hours ago.

Meanwhile, the second bridge company, Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB), will pay compensation of RM10,000 each to victims in the incident.

Its director-general, Datuk Dr Ismail Mohamad Taib, said the collapse was beyond the company's expectation as the project, involving three phases, was carried out without any problems.

He said a special committee would be formed to investigate the cause of the ramp collapse, adding that if the committee could complete the inquiry within less than a month, it would not cause delay in the completion of the bridge.

The interchange ramp of the Penang Second Bridge which is under construction at Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, here, collapsed at about 7.15pm yesterday and hurt three people.

Two of the victims were construction workers Slamat, 36, from Indonesia and Tin Maung Iwin, 39, from Myanmar.

Both were admitted to Penang Hospital and reported to be in stable condition.

The other person hurt was Thilasheni Rajendran, 24, who was hit by falling debris on the hand.

Thilasheni, who was driving, managed to stop her car about two metres away from the scene of the collapse.

The bridge exit route project is implemented by Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd.