Suke crane crash: Victim's body finally extricated after 42 hours
The body of the third victim of the crane crash at the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Expressway (Suke) construction site was removed at 2.45am today.
This comes about 42 hours after the Fire and Rescue Department was first alerted on the accident at 8.45am on Monday, March 22.
In a statement early this morning, the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department confirmed that the operation had concluded...
The body of the third victim of the crane crash at the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Expressway (Suke) construction site was removed at 2.45am today.
This comes about 42 hours after the Fire and Rescue Department was first alerted on the accident at 8.45am on Monday, March 22.
In a statement early this morning, the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department confirmed that the operation had concluded.
The reason for the extended length of time is because safety precautions needed to be taken to ensure the safety of the rescue team during the dangerous operation.
“The operation began at 2.15am and took half an hour. An unstable beam made it difficult for the Bomba team, taking a long time to retrieve the victim.
“After the contractors were able to stabilise the beam, the Bomba team had a little bit of space to remove the victim from the slit in the beam,” the department said.
Bernama reported that the body was in a state of decomposition when it was lowered.
The body has since been decontaminated and passed on to the police.
The three who died in the accident - identified as Ding Kunfu, Jiang Jinboa and Mu Tong Zheng - were Chinese nationals. Mu was the last to be extricated. They were construction workers at the site.
A Malaysian man suffered serious injuries after the crane launcher used to construct the highway fell onto his Perodua Bezza car 36.5 metres (120 feet) below. He is being treated at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM.
Stop-work order issued
The accident occurred near a condominium in Alam Damai in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
The Works Ministry has since issued a stop-work order for the stretch of highway involved in the tragedy.
Opposition lawmakers have appealed for the government to halt the entire project to allow for an independent probe into why three accidents have taken place at Suke in six months, leaving five dead.
Last September, a concrete slab fell and smashed into a vehicle below, injuring the driver.
As a result, one of Suke’s contractors, MRCB Builders Sdn Bhd, and subcontractor Makna Setia Sdn Bhd were fined a total of RM180,000 for failing to ensure safety.
Earlier this month, a trailer crashed into metal scaffolding at the Suke site, causing an unfinished bridge to collapse onto a moving van. Two died and three were injured.
The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) launched investigations into the incidents, but the findings have yet to be released.
The CIDB is investigating the latest accident along with the Malaysian Highway Authority and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.
