The witness claimed that most of the victims were workers who were sleeping after doing their overtime.Samarinda, E Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - A 3-storeyed building with at least 17 shops in the Cendrawasih Permai Complex of Samarinda, East Kalimantan Province, collapsed and buried tens of people on Tuesday, at 6:25 a.m. local time.
The debris buried tens of construction workers who were at the site, which was under construction since December 2013.
"Last night, we worked overtime to cast the third level of the building. We had finished the work at 5 a.m. and took rest immediately," stated Supardi, a survivor who worked at the construction site here on Tuesday.
The witness claimed that most of the victims were workers who were sleeping after doing their overtime.
Supardi, who hails from the Kediri District of East Java Province, admitted that he was saved from the collapsing building as he was resting in the first level outside the building.
"I heard cracking sounds from the building and immediately ran away from the site. What I saw was that the building had totally collapsed," Supardi added.
After the accident occurred, Supardi heard loud cries for help from the victims.
"I heard people calling for help and immediately asked for assistance from those around," Supardi remarked.
According to preliminary data received, the total number of victims is likely to be 129 workers, who mostly hailed from the East Java Province, noted Chief of Public Relations Unit of Samarinda Police First Inspector Agus Setyo.
"As of now, 80 victims have been rescued and evacuated. We are still conducting search and rescue to find the other victims," Agus said. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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