Suspension bridge cable in Ranau snaps, seven fall off, two hospitalised

KOTA KINABALU: A cable for a suspension bridge in Ranau near here snapped, causing seven people to fall off, with two victims hospitalised after suffering serious injuries.

They are believed to be among eight people, including three schoolgoers, who were trying to get better network connection on the bridge in the remote Kampung Gusi in Ranau when the cable snapped.

Seven people fell off the bridge but one managed to hang on.

The first victim, aged 16, fractured her thigh bone while a 36-year-old male victim injured his spine.

Ranau district police chief DSP Sammy Newton confirmed the incident, saying no police report was lodged but they learnt about the incident after a message was circulated via WhatsApp on Thursday morning (Nov 26).

He said they sent a team to the Ranau district hospital to speak to the victims.

“Based on an initial investigation, the incident happened around 9.30pm on Tuesday (Nov 24) night at the village located about 80km from Ranau, ” he said, adding that the suspension bridge was about 15m high.

“The cause of the incident is still being investigated but we believed the bridge was in bad condition, ” he said.

Ranau district officer Mohd Yassin Ibrahim said he was told that one of the cables holding the bridge up snapped, causing it to tilt.

He said the road to the village was inaccessible due to waterlogged roads and the injured had to be taken to Kampung Karagasan via boat and later driven to the nearest clinic.

“The others (five victims) received outpatient treatment and were allowed to go home. Two were transferred to the district hospital, ” he said.

Yassin also said officials and relevant authorities have been advised against going to the village to assess the damage to the bridge due to strong river currents caused by the rainy season.