Three Bangladeshi workers died and two others were seriously injured when an under-construction warehouse collapsed in Malaysia on Tuesday night, police said.
The incident occurred at 9:58 pm (local time) in Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Moqaddesh Ali, son of Md. Afsar Ali in Haripur village under Shibganj upazila of Bogura, Mohammad Saiful Islam, son of Md. Rawshan Ali in Laxmipur village under Debidwar in Cumilla and Md. Ahad Ali, son of Mohammad Osman Mandal in Chaipai village under Chatmohar upazila of Pabna, said a media release signed by Sufi Abdullahil Maruf, first secretary (press) of Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia.
The injured workers were sent to Penang Hospital for treatment, while unidentified four are believed to have been buried under the rubble.
A search and rescue operation was underway by the Fire and Rescue Department with assistance from other agencies, including the police and the Civil Defence Force.
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) asked the developer to immediately stop work at the site.
Local Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said this was to facilitate the rescue operation and the investigation carried out by the authorities.
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Meanwhile, Bayan Lepas assemblyman Datuk Azrul Mahathir Aziz, who also visited the site, called for strict action against those responsible if negligence is found to have caused the incident.
The Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia expressed deep sorrow and shock at the unexpected incident.
Bangladeshi acting High Commissioner Mohammad Khorshed A Khastagir sent first secretary (labour) A.S.M Zahidur Rahman and Legal Assistant Sukumaran Subramanian to the spot.
The envoys collected information about the victims and are in touch with the families of the Bangladeshi workers to send the bodies home soon.
The high commission has also been working to realise compensations for the victims from the authorities concerned.
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