Five workers electrocuted, two killed

PADANG, West Sumatra: Two people died and three others were injured late on Tuesday night in Padang Pariaman regency, after they were electrocuted.

The incident began when the five were hired by local poll officials to raise the flags of 24 political parties eligible to contest the upcoming general election.

The workers were told to raise the flags in Kurai Taji and Naras subdistricts.

As the five men were preparing to raise the flags on staffs provided by poll officials, it began to rain.

Despite the storm, the men continued to work because they had been asked to complete the job that night.

"Apparently, one of the wet flags touched an open cable on a nearby power line, which electrocuted them," said Adj. Comr. Taswim Achmad, the chief of detectives of the Padang Pariaman Police, on Wednesday.

The deceased, Al Ambo, 23, and Mulyadi, 22, were buried on Wednesday. The three men injured in the incident are being treated at a local hospital. -- Antara