TRAGIC: A crane topples and crashes into three houses in Georgetown, Penang killing a senior citizen and injuring three others. — Bernama photo
GEORGE TOWN: A senior citizen was killed while three others were seriously injured when a crane toppled and crashed into three houses at the junction of Jalan Transfer and Jalan Sri Bahari at around midnight on Monday.
The Penang Fire and Rescue Department director, Azmi Tamat said the senior citizen, Leong Yee Khoon, 64, who was believed to be asleep in a room on the second floor of one of the houses, was killed in the incident at 12.15am.
“Three members of his family – Luaran Chooi Guan, 77, Luaran’s wife Chew Hong Choo, 76, and their son, Seong Ean, 55, who lived in the house suffered serious injuries,” he told reporters here yesterday.
He said the injured victims were sent to the Penang General Hospital.
He added that the crane was being used in the construction of a 20-storey hotel at a site opposite the victim’s house.
“Further investigation is in progress to identify the cause of the incident and we do not rule out the possibility of the crane tipping over due to strong wind,” he said.
Azmi said the Fire and Rescue Department took a long time to retrieve Leong’s body which was buried under the rubble.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency office, located at Jalan Sri Bahari behind the affected houses, was also damaged in the incident. — Bernama