Unstable scaffolding to have been the cause of collapse

The instability of the scaffolding at the Second Penang Bridge is believed to have been the cause of the structure collapsing yesterday.

Penang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director, Mohamad Shoki Hamzah told Astro Awani today, the incident had crushed and trapped a car that had passed through the area at Batu Maung.

“A source from the contractor told us that during construction work, the scaffolding was found to be unstable and the structure had suddenly collapsed soon after,” said Mohamad Shoki.

As of 7am, a victim who was trapped inside a car beneath the rubble was found by the search and rescue team from Penang Fire and Rescue Department.

“The victim was found at 12.05am by our team and efforts to lift the concrete rubble are still on-going. We believe there are no other victims involved in this incident,” he said.

A concrete slab of about 30 metres and weighing more than 1,000 tonnes had crashed to the ground near Batu Maung at about 7.15pm yesterday.

The bridge, which connects Batu Kawan on the mainland to Batu Maung on the island, is expected to be completed by September this year.

The RM4.5 billion bridge under the Ninth Malaysia Plan will also provide easier access to the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.

The construction of the second bridge commenced on Nov 8, 2008. It comprises of 16.8 km of the bridge structure to be above the sea and another 6.8km on land.