On 31 July 1988, The passenger platform at the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth collapsed at 4.40pm, killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 800. Od the injured, 390 were admitted to hospital and 54 were given outpatient treatment.
It was believed that the structure collapsed under the sheer weight of the unusually large crowd in the waiting area; thousands were returning home from the St Anne Festival in Bukit Mertajam and others were on their way to the island for the Kuan Yin Festival Procession.
Passengers were rushing to board a ferry when the platform crashed down on motorcycles and three cars waiting on the lower deck. Using Forklifts to lift beams and planks, Penang Port Commission firemen and state fire services department staff took three hours to recover all the bodies.
On August 3, Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a Royal Commision would be set up to inquire into the tragedy.
Blogger Comment
Facebook Comment