Trucks still in river after bridge collapse
Trucks still in river after bridge collapse
Nana Rukmana, Subang
Rescuers were still attempting on Sunday to lift out two trucks
that plunged into a river along with five other vehicles when the
Cipunegara Bridge collapsed in Subang regency two days ago.
As a result of the bridge's collapse, traffic on one of the
most congested stretches of the north coast highway in West Java
was reduced to a virtual standstill.
To ease the congestion, vehicles traveling east from Jakarta
to Central Java were rerouted along an alternative route via
Jalang Sadang (Subang) - Cikamurang (Indramayu) - Kadipatan
(Majalengka) - Palimanan (Cirebon).
"In general, the traffic is now more or less back to normal
after the alternative route was introduced," Subang Police chief
Adj. Sr. Comr. Agnes Supraptiningsih told reporters.
No fatalities were reported after the bridge, located at
Mulyasari village in Pamanukan district, some 30 kilometers north
of Subang, collapsed at 11:15 p.m. on Friday night.
However, eight people were injured and at least 15 cows died
as the truck transporting them was among the vehicles that were
plunged into the river.
Police and transportation officers assisted by local residents
have pulled five vehicles and one motorcycle from the river, and
are now working hard to pull out the other two trucks.
The slow progress was due to the lack of suitable equipment
and the awkward positions in which the two trucks were sitting,
Pamanukan Police chief Adj. Comr. Sirap Harsono explained.
He said the police were investigating the cause of the
bridge's collapse, which occurred when traffic along the route
was still at its peak.
Based on preliminary investigations, Sirap said, the collapse
was triggered by overloading and "the age" of the bridge, which
in fact was only built in 1978 and opened for use three years
later.
Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructures Soenarno,
who arrived at the scene on Saturday, confirmed that the collapse
was likely due to overloading.
He also said that the age of the bridge could have also been a
factor.
Soenarno said his ministry would cooperate with the police and
the Ministry of Transportation in investigating the accident.
He said the government had actually planned to renovate the
Cipunegara bridge in 2006, but the bridge's collapse would force
the plan to be brought forward.
"I am targeting the repair work to be completed before the
second round of the presidential election on Sept. 20," he said.
According to the minister, at least Rp 2 billion (US$222,222)
and a period of one-and-a-half months would be needed to rebuild
the bridge.
He said the rapid rebuilding of the bridge was essential so as
to ensure it was ready for the annual exodus of travelers during
the Idul Fitri holidays, which fall on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15 this
year.
The eight injured, including three with serious wounds, were
named as Yusuf, 35, Wayan, 57, and Karsono, 45. They are now
being treated at the Subang General Hospital.
The severely injured were found trapped inside their vehicles.
The five victims with light injuries were identified as
Suparman, 47, Bambang Sudiarto, 40, Tri Budiyanto, 40, Taba'in,
40, and Andi, 21.
The seven vehicles that plunged into the river consisted of
six large trucks and a Daihatsu Espass minivan. All of them were
write-offs.