The police in Penang have confirmed that four construction workers, initially feared trapped in the collapse of 15 beams at a warehouse construction site in Batu Maung, are alive. According to Deputy Police Chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad, all four workers were present during the incident but fled the scene out of fear.

After conducting a search and rescue operation since Tuesday night, authorities have confirmed that the workers are safe. The four Bangladeshi workers were located and apprehended around Bayan Lepas at 4 PM and subsequently interrogated.

Confirming their status, Mohamed Usuf stated, "I confirm that the four workers said to be trapped are actually alive. Therefore, we concluded the SAR operation after being satisfied that no one was trapped."

The incident's victim count stands at five, with three fatalities (two at the scene and one in the hospital) and two others severely injured. The police tracked the workers' movements via camera recordings at the site, revealing their presence and subsequent flight when the structure collapsed.

The investigation is underway and is being conducted jointly by the fire department, Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB), and Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Mohamed Usuf mentioned that findings from these agencies would be handed over to the police for further action.

Despite the SAR operation's conclusion, authorities from the Bayan Lepas Fire and Rescue Station will remain on standby for potential developments at the incident site. Ts Zulfahmi Sutaji of the Fire and Rescue Department expressed hope for the best outcome and stated their readiness to hand over the site to relevant agencies after this phase.

Source: Sinar Harian