Foreign worker buried alive at transmission tower construction site

A worker was buried alive in a cave-in at the construction site of an electricity transmission tower at Batu 25, Jalan Labuk near here on Tuesday.

The victim was a male Indian national identified as Sona Mahto, 32.

Sandakan Fire and Rescue head Mohd Razali Awang Ahmad said a report of the incident was received at 4.39pm and a 10-member team was sent to the location.

He said the incident occurred when the steel barriers near a two-metre hole collapsed while two workers were working there.

He said other workers brought the victim out with an excavator and hoes.

Mohd Razali said the other worker identified as Tipnarayan Mahto, 33, also an Indian national, was only slightly injured.

Tipnarayan was sent to the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan for treatment.

-- Bernama