Human error blamed for deadly Suramadu bridge's slabs collapse

Human error blamed for deadly Suramadu bridge's slabs collapse

Indra Harsaputra, Surabaya

Human error was blamed for the collapse of six concrete slabs at
the Suramadu bridge construction site, which resulted in the
death of a construction worker.

The bridge is being built to connect Surabaya and Madura
island in East Java province.

A preliminary investigation by a team from the Ministry of
Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure found that the accident
was due to a failure by workers to properly position the sixth
slab, with the result that it fell and toppled the other five
slabs.

A separate police investigation also found that part of the
bridge should be supported by 35 steel masts, but in fact it was
supported by only 27 masts.

"The results of the preliminary investigation show that the
accident was caused by human error. We don't want the public to
get the wrong idea that the materials being used on the bridge
are of low quality," said Soenarno, the minister of resettlement
and regional infrastructure, after a closed-door meeting with the
East Java governor on Wednesday.

The six concrete slabs collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, killing
one worker and injuring seven others. Each of the slabs is 40
meters long and weighs 80 tons. The accident cost Rp 1.2 billion
given that each slab is worth Rp 200 million.

Megawati inaugurated the US$150 million high-profile project
last week, and it is due to be completed in 2006 or 2007. The
5,438-meter-long bridge will be the longest in Indonesia.

East Java Provincial Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said
that the police were looking into the possibility of any
irregularities in the case.