MIRI: A former chief of Kampung Lusut No.1 Zone A feared for his life when his taxi swerved horizontally on a dilapidated bridge, made slippery by continuous heavy rain in the area.
SCARY: Ganing (left) stranded with his taxi wedged on the wet and slippery bridge
Recalling the experience, Ganing Chanok counted himself lucky to be alive.
“That is my most scary experience — it almost cost me my life, had it not been for the rail that stopped my taxi from plunging into the river below where the current was swift,” he related.
The mishap happened at 3.30pm on Oct 6 when Ganing was driving his taxi across the bridge to the city to ply his service.
It was raining heavily the whole day in Kampung Lusut and also in the city.
The dilapidated bridge was already in a state of disrepair.
Ganing’s daughter, Rose Sulan, who is the village chief, had brought up the problem of the bridge to The Borneo Post Oct 30 last year.
“It’s been almost a year ago but nothing was done.
When I voiced this to the paper, I was blamed and condemned by some parties but I was doing it for everybody,” she said when met by The Borneo Post yesterday.
She said her father’s vehicle skidded and swerved horizontally as the rain the whole of that day had made the bridge slippery.
According to Rose, the bridge served over 1,000 people in the village and surrounding areas.
Many of them worry the bridge would be damaged if bad weather continue.
Their greatest fear is that the bridge might become impassable as had often occurred in past years.
“We are concerned that in the event of emergencies, such as when someone falls ill and is in need of medical attention, the bridge could cause delay in taking the victim to hospital,” Rose lamented.
The bridge had been dilapidated for many years.
During floods brought by the heavy rains it could be washed off as its foundation was unstable and its rails shaky.
“Lately we have been experiencing wet weather in Miri day and night and if it persists may worsen the condition of the bridge,” she said.
For the safety of the residents, she hoped the authorities concerned look into the bridge before it caused the loss of lives.
The villagers felt insecure each time they use the bridge, fearing it might collapse any moment.
“It’s dangerous and many motorcyclists fall off their machines as the bridge shakes badly due to the poor foundation,” Rose said.