SIBU: Two men were confirmed dead after falling into a confined space inside a barge, believed to be a ballast tank, at Lorong Lanang 61 here earlier this morning.
Zone 4 Fire and Rescue Department chief Andy Alie said they received an emergency call at 9:21 am and dispatched a team from the Sibu Sentral Station, located four kilometres away.
“Upon arrival, it was discovered that both victims had fallen into the ship’s hull around 9 am while attempting to pump out water before starting welding work,” he said in a statement.
An eyewitness found them unconscious, one lying face down near a ladder, the other on his back about a metre away.
“The first victim, Tang Sing Kok, 55, was retrieved at 10:12 am, followed two minutes later by the second, Ting Tung Hu, 48.
“Both were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics,” he added.
Their bodies were handed over to the police for further action, and the operation ended at 10:30 am.
Andy said both men were maintenance workers and are believed to have died from inhaling toxic gas, though the exact cause is still under investigation.
