An elderly man and his Indonesian colleague tragically died in Sarawak inside a lorry after the excavator arm that the vehicle was transporting got tangled with an electric power line cable yesterday (19 August 2022). Both men were believed to have been electrocuted to death following the incident, which also caused the front tyre of the lorry to catch fire.
As reported by Bernama, the incident happened in Jalan Semalau, Tanjung Manis and the local Fire and Rescue Department rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at around 9.15 am. According to the Tanjung Manis Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) chief Wan Umar Wan Alek, the excavator was seen entangled with the electric power cable and there was a fire in the front tyre on the driver’s side.
Wan Umar further revealed that his team found the two victims lying beside the truck on the driver’s side when they reached. Moreover, the Fire and Rescue Department could not start the extinguishing operation when they reached the location as there was still electric current passing through both vehicles.
The team could only start after receiving information from the Sarawak electricity supplier company that the power supply had been cut at the location. A medical officer who carried out examination on the two victims then confirmed that they had died before their remains were handed over to the nearby Belawai district police for further action.
Both victims have seen been identified; 61-year-old Malaysian Hi Sieh King and 34-year-old Indonesian Al Bari Mahmud. Preliminary investigations found that both victims died at the scene due to electrocution when the excavator arm being transported by the lorry got caught in the overhead electric cable. The remains of both men have been sent to Sibu Hospital for further action.
What do you guys think of this tragic incident? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Also read: 12yo Kelantan Girl Dies From Allegedly Being Struck By Lightning While Using Her Phone
