Health Ministry to ensure mine explosion victims get proper treatment

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry has taken all proactive measures to ensure victims of the coal mine explosion in Silantek Quarry in Pantu, Sri Aman are getting the necessary burn management treatments.
Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 15 victims are being treated in Sri Aman Hospital while 14 others at the Sarawak General Hospital. Another was sent home after being given outpatient treatment.
"Three medical teams from the Sri Aman health office were dispatched to the site upon the Sarawak Health Department receiving an alert on the explosion," he said in a statement today.
In the incident which happened about 9am on Saturday, three foreign workers died and 26 others were injured.
The three dead were identified as Indonesian Kardianto, 38, Tun Tun Win, 36, from Myanmar and Pang Chung-hyok, 29 from North Korea.
Dr Noor Hisham said they have records of only those who sought treatment at the government hospitals.
He said, they have also flown in additional medical equipments including 14 sets of breathing apparatus (ventilator) from Sabah and Selangor to the hospitals.
He added if the need arises, more medical experts from Sabah or Peninsular Malaysia will be sent to Sri Aman to assist the existing teams in the proper management of the burn victims.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Kuching Fire and Rescue Department has ordered the temporary closure of the coal mine since midnight on Saturday.
Sri Aman Fire and Rescue Station chief, Ranger Moos said the order was issued after the Hazmat (hazardous materials and items) team had identified the gas leakage and the type of gas in the tunnel.
"At 8.30 last night, five members of the Hazmat team had entered the tunnel until 260 metres inside and detected methane gas," he said today.
Ranger said following the discovery, an order to temporarily close down the mine was issued, after which workers were no longer on duty to look after the water pump.
"The water pump is meant to remove water from the tunnel but when the water pump is not in operation, the tunnel will be filled with water which neutralises the tunnel," he said.
Asked when the investigation into the mine explosion would begin, Ranger said it could not be determined yet and the department had not been informed when the mining company's engineers would arrive to confirm that the tunnel's structure was safe to enter.