9 killed, 11 hurt in factory accident

CILACAP, Central Java: Nine construction workers were buried alive when the iron frames of a cement plant's coal storehouse they were working on collapsed on Tuesday.

The Kompas daily quoted a witness as saying that a worker was seen tugging at a rope which was tied on one part of the frames, which appeared to not be bolted on tightly. "Because of the strong tugging, the frames swayed and then collapsed," the witness said.

Eleven other workers were injured in the accident.

The daily reported that construction, which began early last year, had now reached the roofing stage. The workers were on the top story of the building when the roof frames, weighing hundreds of tons, collapsed on them.

The contractor, PT United Engineering Indonesia of Jakarta, was hired by PT Nusantara cement company to construct the 150 meter by 60 meter building.

The bodies of the dead workers, along with the injured, were sent to Fatimah Moslem Hospital, Pertamina Hospital and Cilacap Public Hospital. (swe)