Langkawi jetty collapses, sends 12 plunging into the sea

Rescuers searching for victims after a jetty collapsed in Langkawi. Pictures of the incident are making the rounds online.

GEORGE TOWN: A trip to Langkawi for a group of lecturers and students from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) turned into a nightmare after a concrete jetty gave way as they were crossing it, plunging 12 of them into the sea.

In the 1.50pm incident, a group of 40 tourists, including the group from UMK, had just arrived at Pulau Anak Tikus, a popular destination known as Fossil Island.

The Kilim Jetty is the main entry point for tourists to enter its famed geopark.

The concrete jetty gave way just as a group of tourists arrived.

Langkawi Fire and Rescue Department officials said 10 people suffered minor injuries.

Passersby helped to save the victims before rescuers arrived.

A spokesman said those injured were taken to another jetty some five nautical miles away before being sent to the Langkawi Hospital for treatment.

Rescuers helping victims shortly after the incident. The picture was taken by one of the tourists who posted it online.

Tourism Langkawi, a local tourism development organisation, said it was high time the authorities do a safety audit on all important places of interest.

Tourism Langkawi NGO chairman Ahmad Pishol Ishak.

Its chairman Ahmad Pishol Ishak said it had highlighted the condition of the jetty six years ago, but the authorities failed to take any action.

“When we highlight the problem, people say we are making too much noise. Now, this happens. The lives of Malaysians and foreigners are at risk.

“We need an urgent safety audit. Such incidents will badly affect tourism,” he told FMT. - FMT