A lorry driver who witnessed a terrifying quarry collapse at Bukit Tembaga described hearing a massive explosion moments before an excavator operator became trapped under falling rocks and soil on Tuesday.
The witness, 35-year-old Roshazwan Saad, said the impact of the collapse was so powerful that it pushed his lorry forward.
“I heard a very loud explosion from the quarry collapse and the force pushed my lorry ahead,” he recalled.
Roshazwan said he immediately got out of his vehicle but could not see the victim because he had been buried beneath huge boulders and debris.
“Although I couldn’t see him, I could hear him screaming for help,” he said.
The victim was identified as 29-year-old excavator operator Ahmad Zaidi Dali, who became trapped inside his excavator after the quarry wall reportedly collapsed.
Roshazwan said he initially wanted to help but feared another collapse could happen at any moment, prompting him to quickly contact the Fire and Rescue Department.
“I saw his hand moving and heard him asking for help. I told him to stay calm and wait for rescuers because I couldn’t do anything safely on my own,” he said.
According to Pokok Sena Fire and Rescue Station chief Bakar Saad, authorities received an emergency call regarding the incident at 2.07pm.
A team of seven firefighters led by Senior Fire Officer Shahrin Musa arrived shortly afterwards and discovered that soil and quarry rocks had crushed the excavator.
The victim was found pinned inside the damaged cabin, with the door structure badly bent and buried under debris.
Firefighters stabilised the heavy machinery before carrying out a delicate rescue operation using hydraulic tools and specialised rescue equipment to create access to the trapped victim.
The operation was conducted cautiously with the assistance of another excavator used to lift heavy rocks from the collapse site.
After an intense rescue effort, Ahmad Zaidi was successfully pulled out at around 2.48pm while still alive before being handed over to Health Ministry paramedics and rushed to hospital for treatment.
The dramatic incident has once again raised concerns over workplace safety at quarry sites and the dangers faced by heavy machinery operators working in unstable terrain.
