Building collapse in Pulau Perhentian: six workers escape while one is dead

A resort's three-story building under construction collapsed early on Thursday, November 9 in Pulau Perhentian, off Terengganu. A Malaysian and six foreign workers were trapped due to the collapse which is yet to be determined. Fortunately, four managed to escape the rubble; two were successfully rescued. However, one was missing and was found dead by members of the search and rescue operation on Friday (November 10) afternoon.

According to Besut OCPD Supt Abdul Rozak Muhammad, the Malaysian and three Rohingya workers crawled out of the debris shortly after the incident occurred around 5am on the island, which is a 30-minute ferry ride away. Two Indonesian workers were successfully rescued, and efforts were underway to find the missing Indonesian worker.

The workers were inside the building asleep when it collapsed, as shared by Supt Abdul Rozak at the Kuala Besut jetty. He mentioned that three Rohingya workers and the Malaysian were able to crawl out independently, while the two Indonesians were rescued at 12:53 pm and 1:18 pm, respectively.

The six workers were taken to Besut Hospital, with reported stable conditions. The project supervisor informed the police that he heard a loud noise and witnessed the collapse when rushing out of his office approximately 30m away. The police established a control center at the scene by 9am.

The resort structure on Perhentian Island that collapsed during construction was probably illicitly built during Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020. According to Mohd Sukeri Ibrahim, the chairman of the Besut district council, the owners of the resort had submitted requests for building plan approval and planning permission in August 2021. Nevertheless, during the 14th Local Central Committee (OSC) meeting of the council on September 12, 2021, the application was denied due to multiple reasons.

Supt Abdul Rozak stated that the search-and-rescue operation involved 70 officers and personnel from various agencies, including the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence, and Marine Police. Assistance is being provided by personnel from the Malaysian Volunteers Corps Department, Health Ministry, resort workers, and villagers.