20 injured as building's roof collapses

MEDAN: Twenty people were injured and rushed to hospital when the roof of the government building on Jl. Merdeka, Tanjung Pura district, Langkat regency, North Sumatra collapsed Monday evening.

No fatalities were reported in the incident, but most of the victims reportedly suffered from serious injuries to their heads cause by debris from the falling roof.

Witnesses said the accident happened at around 8:30 p.m., when a folk song festival and arts and culture exhibition were being held at the building to compete for the Langkat Regent Ngogesa Sitepu trophies.

Langkat Police deputy chief Comr. Iwan Setiawan said the police were investigating the cause of the roof's collapse. He also said the 20 victims were currently receiving medical attention at Tanjung Pura Hospital.

The head of Langkat administration's public relations division, Syahrizal, said the building, which was constructed in the 1800s, had only had a complete renovation once in 1995.

"Let the police do their work and let's focus on the victims," he said, responding to accusation the accident was due to carelessness on the part of the developer renovating the building. - JP