Two more bodies removed from overpass rubble
Two more bodies removed from overpass rubble
JAKARTA (JP): The remains of two workers were removed
yesterday from the rubble of the overpass which collapsed on
Friday in Grogol, West Jakarta.
The body of Wandi, 25, was pulled out around 8:20 a.m. Hours
later, around 2:40 p.m., the body of 35-year-old Saman, Wandi's
colleague, was uncovered with his skull broken.
Saman's uncle Emon, who arrived Friday from Cikampek, where
most of the 21 victims lived, accompanied Saman's body to the
Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital where the autopsies will be
performed.
The death toll stands at three, including Sunjaya, who was
first found on Friday after a section of the overpass collapsed
around 8:20 a.m.
Workers said that because the attendance list of men working
on the collapsed section showed 21 persons, there is little
possibility of any other victims being under the rubble.
The collapse of the almost completed project, which is to be
the entrance to the Grogol-Pluit toll road, injured 18 others.
After working non-stop since Friday to free the bodies, the
workers took a one-hour rest before cutting the structure -- 30
meters in length and weighing 600 tons -- into seven pieces to
enable cranes to lift them away.
A Ministry of Public Works official, M. Tontro Prastowo, said
the rubble is being cleared away as quickly as possible.
Tontro declined to say if the project would be completed as
planned in late April.
The contractors are the South Korean Hanbo General Contractor
and an Indonesian partner, Bumi Karsa, whose representatives were
not available for comment.
Chief of the West Jakarta Police Lt. Col. Hari Pribadi said
the questioning of persons involved will begin again on Monday.
He said the 12 persons already questioned included a Korean
supervisor identified only as Lee, who, workers said, ordered the
premature dismantling of the stagers.
Hari said the case is even more complex than a murder case.
"We will consult experts in construction and government officials
in charge of project supervision," he said.
On Saturday the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI)
appealed to the contractor to give "maximum attention" to the
injured workers and retirement pensions to the families of the
deceased.
A director of Hanbo, Ryu Joo Wan, said all workers are covered
by labor insurance under the state-owned insurance company, PT
Astek.
An executive of the Indonesian Consumers Protection
Foundation, Zumrotin K. Soesilo, said that in the wake of last
week's disaster the government should at least check the city's
other overpasses to gauge their safety. (anr/P.J.Leo)