Painters plunge to their deaths

JAKARTA (JP): Four workers were killed yesterday afternoon at the Aryaduta hotel on Jl. Prapatan in Central Jakarta, when the platform carrying them plummeted from the top floor of the hotel.

The four workers were identified as Solihin, Jeffri and Abdullah, from Brebes in Central Java, and Nawir, a married man from Purwodadi in Central Java.

The four 20-year-olds worked for PT Painting Contractor, which is now repainting the facade of the 17-story hotel.

The accident reportedly happened at 1:40 p.m., just after they got their lunch.

The gondola carried them to the top floor and then fell.

The Gambir police have no clue why the platform collapsed.

"We are just beginning the investigation. The case will be clear in several days," Gambir police chief Maj. T. Agus. S. told The Jakarta Post at the accident scene.

Laborers painting from nearby gondolas, however, speculated that the accident may have resulted from the four workers' recklessness.

"Perhaps they pushed the 'up' button for too long. The machine probably moved to the top and as you can see the end of the iron track is open. Nothing stopped the car from derailing and falling once it reached the end," explained one worker.

Gondola are operated by workers on the platform by pushing the up and down buttons.

Other witnesses said the four were "playing around" when the gondola reached the top.

They reportedly did not wear the safety belts provided on the platform.

Police questioned yesterday several workers from PT Painting Contractor including Hermanto, the four workers' supervisor, and his superior Hariandi.

Police said they will also question PT Gondola, the company reportedly in charge of fixing the gondolas at the hotel, to determine what caused the accident. (jsk)