Quarry blast rocks school, injures students

A teacher and 14 students were rushed to hospital after rocks rained down through the roof of the school hall.

KANGAR: A teacher and 14 pupils of Sekolah Kebangsaan Chuping near here were injured after blasted rocks from a nearby quarry
rained on the school hall.

The incident occurred at about noon yesterday as several teachers were supervising pupils from Year One to Year Five participating in a colouring competition in conjunction with National Day.

Perlis Police chief Zull Aznam Haron, who had accompanied the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, to the school, said a female teacher, 10 female pupils and four male pupils were injured.

Rocks had rained through the roof of the hall and also brought down pieces of the ceiling as well as a projector. Holes were visible on the roof of the hall.

Zull Aznam said the injured teacher and the pupils were given outpatient treatment at the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital.

The injured teacher, Norhayati Mat, 35, who teaches Islamic education, was injured in the head and shoulders by the falling projector and pieces of the ceiling.

Perlis Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Khairi Hasan, who is the assemblyman for Mata Ayer, Perlis Education Director Dun Kasa and the management of Cement Industries of Malaysia Berhad (CIMA), operators of the quarry, also visited the school.

CIMA, in a statement issued in KUALA LUMPUR, said it had voluntarily decided to stop blasting activities at the site pending detailed investigation which it would be undertaken together with the Mineral and Geoscience Department as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Department.

“All blasting work at the area involved will cease as of today. Future blasting activities will be relocated to safer areas further away from residential areas and schools,” it said.

CIMA has also agreed to revise the time of the blasting in consultation with the school and relevant government agencies.

The company said it met with the headmaster and the school’s parent-teacher association soon after the incident.

“The management of CIMA is looking at providing necessary assistance to those affected by this unfortunate incident,” the statement added.

-Bernama