Stop work order at Alor Gajah mall after three killed

ALOR GAJAH: The municipal council has issued a stop work order at a shopping mall here after part of a roof that was under construction collapsed on Monday, killing three workers.

Municipal officials were seen placing the stop work notices at the site in Pulau Sebang following the collapse at about 2.15pm.

State Human Resources and NGO Affairs committee chairman Datuk M.S.Mahadevan said at least 19 workers were injured in the incident when the roof of the mezzanine floor came down.

Three workers were confirmed killed and three others in critical condition.

The incident occurred when workers were removing the steel beams supporting the roof.

Malacca police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said the victims were still being identified.

"All those injured were rushed to Tampin and Malacca Hospitals.

"We are still waiting for documents to identify them but ground report said most of the victims are from Myanmar," he said.

Rescue workers from the state Fire and Rescue Department were first at the scene and three workers were pulled out alive from under the concrete slabs.

A SMART team from Putrajaya later arrived with telescopic search  equipment and scanners and a dog unit.

Malacca Fire and Rescue Department director Nazili Mahmood described the scene as catastrophic.

"The whole floor was ravaged and those who survived should be thankful," he said.