SIBU: The public is reminded not to approach the collapsed shop building area on Jalan Pahlawan here, especially in the area marked with a yellow line due to the building structure still moving and not yet safe.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) Chairman, Clarence Ting Ing Horh, said the incident occurred early on Friday morning at around 2.30 am when the entire building block housing eight shop units sank by about three feet.
Firefighters who were notified of the incident were immediately deployed to the location to control the area and ensure the safety of the public.
According to Ting, the situation is still unstable and the public is asked to stay away from the area as there is still debris falling.
“Public safety is a priority. We hope the public will always be vigilant for their own safety,” he said when met at the location this morning (Feb 13).
Ting also informed that so far there have been no reports of injuries or loss of life.
“We are grateful that no one was injured,” he added.
In addition, restaurants and open kitchens in the nearby area have been ordered to close immediately and closure notices will be issued in the near future.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee, along with officials from the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and the Resident’s Office.
According to Ting, an emergency meeting will be held at the SMC in the afternoon with all relevant agencies to determine follow-up actions.
He stressed that the entire building block in question is no longer safe and an immediate investigation will be conducted.
“We need to move quickly to ensure that this area is safe again,” he said.
Regarding the adjacent building and nearby houses, he said the technical authorities will conduct further investigations before any decision is made.
The owners of the shop buildings have also been asked to report to the SMC for further action.
“The tenants will be dealt with by the building owners, but we need to identify all the owners first,” he said.
He stressed that the public’s cooperation is very important in ensuring mutual safety.
“We request the public not to cross the safety line because the risk is still high,” he explained.
The entire area is now under close surveillance by the authorities and investigations will continue to identify the cause of the incident.
