JURU: Three workers were killed while three others seriously injured when the roof frame of a building under contruction in the Prai Industrial Area here collapsed this afternoon.
Crane driver P. Kumar, 46, from Simpang Ampat, and Rofi Khan, 32, a Myanmar contract worker died at the scene.
Another Myanmar contract worker, Amir Udin Abol Kasim, 20, died at 6.20pm while being treated at the Seberang Jaya Hospital.
The other three, who were seriously injured, all in their 30s, included an Indonesian and two Myanmar nationals.
Seberang Prai Tengah police chief Assistant Commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the bodies of the victims have been sent to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for post-mortem.
He said the three seriously injured were in critical conditions and suffered head injuries.
"We have yet to obtain their identities and are still investigating if they have valid working papers.
"The case has been classified as sudden death but investigation is ongoing," he said.
He added that the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) would be called in to conduct checks at the scene to determine if there was any safety violations.
Meanwhile, state Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Mokhtar said the department received a distress call at 4.42pm.
He said upon arrival at the scene, his team found two bodies under the rubble. The four injured were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital.
"Initial investigation revealed the incident happened when the crane driver knocked into one of the pillars, triggering a domino effect, which resulted in the collapse of the roof frame.
"There were 30 workers in the area at the time of the incident. They were waiting to return home after completing their working shift," he said when met at the scene.
Recalling the incident, a security guard said he was shocked when he saw the roof frame falling from a height of 100m, right before his eyes.
The man, who only wanted to be known as Sambath, 60, said he immediately ran inside to see what had happened.
"It happened about 4.20pm. I heard a group of workers shouting before seeing the roof frame came tumbling down.
"When I wanted to go nearer, I was prevented from doing so. It was then firefighters arrived at the scene." he added.
