KUCHING (Jan 5) – A devastating house collapse in Lorong 17, Jalan Stampin Baru yesterday claimed the life of 58-year-old Lim Inn Tong. The tragic incident is believed to be linked to structural issues, though investigations are ongoing, according to the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak.
Assistant director of the department’s Fire and Rescue Operations Division, Alimaddia Bukri, stated that no conclusive evidence has been found regarding the cause of the collapse.
“At this point, there are no clear indications of what caused the house to collapse. It was not due to a landslide, fire, or ongoing construction. We suspect the house’s structure may have been the issue, but further investigations are needed,” he said in a phone interview with The Borneo Post.
Victim Lived Alone
Lim, who lived alone, was a neighbour to his sister and her children. The distress call was made by one of the children who heard the house collapsing in the early hours of the morning.
Rescue Operations
The Fire and Rescue Department received the emergency call at 2:50 am and arrived at the scene eight minutes later. On arrival, they were informed by witnesses that a victim was trapped inside the house.
The rescue team promptly began their search and rescue efforts. Tragically, Lim was found unconscious under the rubble and was pronounced dead by a Ministry of Health (KKM) medical officer at 4:05 am. His body was handed over to the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) for further investigation.
Community Shocked
This tragic incident has left the local community in shock, as the quiet neighbourhood is not prone to such disasters. Authorities are urging homeowners to ensure their houses are structurally sound to prevent similar incidents in the future.
