GEORGE TOWN: Two Sri Lankan tourists were among many who thronged Lebuh Armenian, marvelling at murals along the road when suddenly, a wooden beam and concrete debris from a heritage shophouse fell upon them.
Mohamad Ammtar, 66, and Fatimah, 55, were walking along the bustling tourist hotspot in the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site when the debris fell from the upper floor at about 1pm yesterday.
They suffered head injuries from the incident. Both received initial treatment at the scene before being taken by ambulance to Penang Hospital.
Lebuh Pantai Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohamad Afizee Jamaluddin said firefighters received an emergency call at 1.11pm and arrived six minutes later.
“Stones and timber collapsed from a first-floor beam of the building, with two victims injured.
“They were given treatment at the scene by medics before being taken to Penang Hospital,” he said at the scene.
State tourism and heritage committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, who visited the scene, said the state government was concerned not only about the injuries suffered by the tourists but also the safety of the aging heritage buildings.
“We are still waiting for a full report to determine the cause of the collapse, but this incident is deeply concerning,” he said.
Wong said his office had contacted the Sri Lankan High Commission to explore assistance for the injured tourists, who were due to return home the next day.
It was the second instance of debris falling from an old building in George Town within days.
On Saturday, part of the roof of another heritage building along Jalan Green Hall collapsed onto the road, crushing a parked car while its owner was away.
Wong said the Penang Island City Council and George Town World Heritage Incorporated would issue an advisory to heritage building owners to inspect their properties and ensure they were structurally safe.
“It is not just this building. The structural safety of old heritage buildings must be given serious attention as they could endanger pedestrians and tourists,” he said.
Wong added that building owners should be encouraged and assisted in carrying out repairs and safety inspections to prevent similar incidents.
Also at the scene were Penang local government and town and country planning committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng and MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran.
Armenian Street is one of George Town’s most famous tourism hotspots, featuring attractions such as Ernest Zacharevic’s iconic Children on a Bicycle mural, boutique cafes, art galleries and cultural attractions.
