3 die, and more than a dozen injured in bridge collapse
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 11/26/2011 7:14 PM
At least three people died and more than a dozen others were injured when Mahakam II Bridge, connecting Tenggarong and Tenggarong Seberang districts in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, collapsed.
“The East Kalimantan governor reported to the President that three people had died and 17 were injured,” State Secretary Sudi Silalahi told reporters Saturday as quoted by kompas.com.
National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) personnel and regional police officers have been deployed to the area to evacuate the victims.
National Police chief Timur Pradopo called on residents living nearby to resume their regular activities despite the incident.
The bridge, also known as Kutai Kertanegara Bridge, collapsed at around 4:30 p.m on Saturday. Many vehicles were reportedly driving across or stopping on the bridge when the accident occurred.
The 705-meter-long suspension was the longest bridge in Kalimantan.
The bridge's construction was completed in 1999.
