MIRI: The widespread theft of iron drain and manhole covers here is posing a threat to pedestrians, especially children and the elderly.
This was demonstrated today when a 60-year-old man fell into an exposed drain at Jalan Miri-Pujut here this morning.
The man, who was taking his routine route from his house to a nearby shop, fell into the uncovered three-metre drain at about 7am.
He had failed to notice that the drain’s cover had suddenly gone missing – believed to have been stolen by thieves – and sustained wounds in the fall.
The injured man was trapped in the drain, and members of the public immediately alerted the authorities.
Miri Fire and Rescue Department Operations officer Abang Muhd Fhazil Abang Abdul Manaf said a team of rescuers was deployed to the scene after receiving a distress call.
“A seven-man team in one vehicle was sent to the scene to help remove the victim from the drain using a special stretcher," he said, adding that the rescue operation took 15 minutes.
Abang Muhd Fhazil said the man was handed over to paramedics from the Miri Hospital for treatment.
