"Certainly investigation will be carried out to find out the cause of the collapse," he said to ANTARA by phone from East Kalimantan on Sunday.
Minister Agung Laksono and public works minister Djoko Kirmanto were in the province to see the extent of the damage caused by the incident.
Based on preliminary investigation the bridge was not under repair when it collapsed.
"According to information I received from the contractor, the bridge was not under repair but was about to enter into the process of repair," Agung said.
He said some of the workers had even fallen victims in the incident. So far four people have been found dead in the incident while dozen others had been wounded. ANTARA learned the bridge was quite busy when it collapsed.
Agung said what was important to do now was preparing boats to replace the function of the bridge.
He said the bridge has so far been the main economic route of the people in Tenggarong district and its surrounding areas.
"(The effort must be taken) so that people`s activities would not be disrupted. The government is preparing two ferry boats for them," he said.
In view of the case Agung said the government would conduct an audit on all old bridges in the country.
The 500-meter long Kutai Kartanegara bridge over Mahakam river connects the sub-districts of Tenggarong Seberang, Tenggarong and Kutai Kartanegara district with the provincial capital of Samarinda.
Public works minister Djoko Kirmanto meanwhile said "this is extraordinary because it was only ten years old when it collapsed. It is rare for a 10-year old bridge to collapse," he told newsmen in Tenggarong early Sunday.
"I could not as yet be able to give details about the cause of the incident as I have not received technical report about it yet," he said.
The search and rescue team helped by police, TNI (military) members and personnel from other offices concerned are still conducting search for possible other victims in the incident. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
