Townhouse under construction collapses, killing one
Malay Mail 15/12/2004

KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian construction worker was killed and two others were seriously injured when sections of a partially-built townhouse collapsed last night.

The four-storey townhouse is part of a 53-unit development in Lorong Jugra in Taman Desa here. The project is being built on the hill slopes of Bukit Desa overlooking Jalan Klang Lama.

The dead worker is identified only as Elis, 23, from Acheh. The injured were identified only as Abiet and Samuri, both in their 20s.

Eight workers were at the building when the incident occurred about 8.30pm. It was believed that the trio were working on a section which collapsed and saw them tumbling about 15 metres and buried under the rubble.

The other workers had to use an excavator to remove the rubble to pull out the victims. Elis was believed to have died on the spot due to massive injuries to his head and body.

An Indonesian worker, Awie, 36, told The Malay Mail that he felt a loud rumble before the section collapsed.

"We could not do anything as the three simply vanished from where we were working when the section collapsed," said Awie, adding that he and other workers rushed to help the victims but found that they were trapped under the rubble.

The injured were rushed to the University Malaya Medical Centre for treatment.