Bridge collapse unusual: Minister
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 11/27/2011 9:58 AM
Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said that the collapse of the Tenggarong bridge in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, was unusual for such a relatively new bridge.
“It is rare that a bridge aged only 10 years can collapse,” Djoko said to reporters in Tenggarong on Sunday, as quoted by kompas.com.
Djoko, along with the Coordinating Peoples Welfare Minister Agung Laksono, arrived at the location at around 2 a.m. Sunday local time.
Djoko said that a team from his ministry’s research body was expected to investigate the cause of the collapse of the bridge that connected the cities of Samarinda and Kutai Kartanegara.
“This morning at around 6 a.m. local time our team will leave Jakarta and hopefully will be here by 10 a.m. local time,” he added.
The Tenggarong bridge caved in on Saturday around 4.30 p.m. local time, killing at least three people dead and injuring 43 others injured. At least 16 people reportedly remain missing.
