At least 3 killed as overpass collapses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A semi-constructed, 500-ton overpass in West
\nJakarta collapsed yesterday morning killing at least three
\nlaborers and injuring 17 others.<\/p>\n
The death toll is expected to rise as people are still
\nbelieved to be buried in the rubble.<\/p>\n
The rescue team used four giant cranes to move wreckage in the
\nhunt for victims. However, the project developers said that
\nbigger cranes would be required to remove all the debris.<\/p>\n
Five construction workers were badly injured and are still
\nbeing treated at the nearby Sumber Waras hospital.<\/p>\n
The victims, along with about 20 other workers, were
\ndismantling the stagers of the overpass when it collapsed.<\/p>\n
One of the project laborers said that the overpass started to
\ncave in at 8 a.m. when workers started dismantling the
\nscaffolding. It collapsed 20 minutes later.<\/p>\n
Another worker, who was injured and taken to hospital, told
\nThe Jakarta Post that he survived because he saw cracks on
\nseveral parts of the overpass.<\/p>\n
\"I chose to work on the outer side of the overpass because
\nthere were some cracks in the construction and the workers did
\nnot dare to tell the Korean supervisor because he is always angry
\nwith us,\" said the worker, who asked not to be identified.<\/p>\n
The overpass is the entrance way to the Grogol-Pluit toll road
\nand it is being built by South Korean Han Bo General Contractor
\nand a local company PT Bumi Karya.<\/p>\n
Neither partner was prepared to comment on the accident.<\/p>\n
Technical mistake<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the director general of road development at the
\npublic works ministry, Soeharsono Martakim, confirmed technical
\nand human errors were behind the accident.<\/p>\n
Soeharsono said the premature removal of the overpass's
\nstagers was a big mistake because the concrete was not hard
\nenough. According to the schedule they should have been removed
\non March 26.<\/p>\n
He added his office would investigate who ordered the workers
\nto dismantle the stagers and would not hesitate to take firm
\naction against the person(s) responsible, regardless of his or
\ntheir position(s) in the project.<\/p>\n
Jakarta's Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs
\nTB. M. Rais said at the accident site that all parties in the
\nproject should be held responsible for the mishap.<\/p>\n
The local police said they have questioned at least 12
\neyewitnesses, most of whom are construction workers on the
\nproject.<\/p>\n
\"We'll soon question those directly involved in this project,
\nsuch as the developers, project managers and consultants,\" West
\nJakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Hari Pribadi said.<\/p>\n
Soeharsono said the incident will not disrupt the Grogol-Pluit
\ntoll road which is expected to be completed before the Air Show
\nin the compound of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport next
\nJune.<\/p>\n
Construction work on the 250-meter overpass started in May
\nlast year and it was expected to be fully completed in May this
\nyear. The total cost of the project is Rp 11 billion.<\/p>\n
Two versions<\/p>\n
The police version of events said the overpass caved in when
\naround 20 workers tried to put bars under it to temporarily
\nprotect the buckled overpass.<\/p>\n
However, the overpass broke down just as the workers started
\nto put in the bars.<\/p>\n
Another version said the overpass collapsed due to the failure
\nof the developers to install the temporary bars under the
\noverpass at the scheduled time.<\/p>\n
\"I think that the second version is more possible,\" Hikima
\nfrom the Tokyo-based PCI & Yec, one of the consultant firms for
\nthe project, told the Post. (bsr\/anr\/yns\/sur)<\/p>\n
Mourn -- Page 3<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/at-least-3-killed-as-overpass-collapses-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }