Batam bridge collapse: Owner blames too many people on bridge as injured Mendaki employees return to Singapore

SINGAPORE — The 26 Singaporeans hurt in a wooden bridge collapse in Batam arrived home on Friday (Nov 8) with waiting ambulances taking the most seriously injured to hospital. Separately, the bridge’s owner said that the structure collapsed because too many people were standing on it.

KOP Limited, which is listed on the Singapore Exchange, is the owner of Montigo Resorts in Nongsa where the incident occurred on Thursday. The company said that the 70m-long bridge had undergone routine maintenance earlier this year, including repairs that involved replacing some wood.

“This is an unfortunate incident which was a result of overcapacity of 30 people at a concentrated area of the bridge, when the bridge was meant to be a casual transient passage,” KOP said in a media statement on Friday.

Signs near the bridge stated that it had a limited capacity, Ms Leny Suparman, KOP's group chief executive officer, said. When asked what the capacity was, she said that she “does not have the exact number”. 

Ms Leny told TODAY that the bridge, built in 2012, had undergone “regular maintenance” earlier this year to “change the wood” of the structure. 

She added that the resort management is “deeply regretful” and “will look into” compensating the victims pending further investigations. 

Reviews on Google showed that the bridge is popular among tourists for taking selfies and sunset photos. The wreckage has since been cordoned off until further notice, Ms Leny said.

The Singaporeans, who were Mendaki staff members attending a retreat for the Malay welfare organisation, arrived back at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at 12.30pm from Nongsapura Ferry Terminal in Batam. They were among about 100 other staff members who were also at the retreat, TODAY understands. 

TODAY saw at least two victims conveyed into separate ambulances on stretchers, one of them in neck braces. At least two other victims in wheelchairs were ferried from the terminal in a third ambulance. 

TODAY understands that the employees were taken to the nearby Changi General Hospital. 

On the initial response to the victims in Batam, Ms Leny said: “The affected were taken to the hospital by the resort immediately, and were attended to with the necessary medical checks.

“Except for two guests — one who sustained ankle fracture and another who had a rib fracture — the rest were discharged immediately.”

At the arrival area of Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, about 20 staff members with less severe injuries were reunited with a group of about 30 friends and family. Mendaki asked the families not to speak to the media.

Mr Imran Khan, 37, and his four-year-old daughter had been waiting anxiously since about 10am at the terminal. His wife Saffia Zakaria, 36, was among the injured. 

“(The collapse) was shocking for her. They were taking a group photo before they heard some cracking sounds, then down they went,” Mr Imran, who is vice-president of a social service organisation, said.

He found out about the incident when his wife — who works in Mendaki's finance unit — called him at midnight on Thursday.

“I’m very happy that she seems okay,” he said after he saw her. She was walking with a limp and Mr Imran said that there were bruises on her knee, but she should recover in three to five days. 

He added that the relatives of the victims should have been officially informed about the incident earlier. 

“Then I would not have to find out by midnight, and some others even found out about it on the news,” Mr Imran said. 

Madam Rahayu Buang, chief executive officer of Mendaki, said: “This is indeed an unfortunate incident. Our employees were on the bridge preparing for a group photo when this incident took place.

“The welfare of our employees remain the top priority and all our staff have returned to Singapore.”

Mendaki said that as at 5pm, of the four staff members who sought medical care, “two had been discharged, one will be warded for further observations and one had undergone surgery to treat her broken ankle”. 

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Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs who is in Saudi Arabia on a state visit, said in a Facebook post on Friday: “I am concerned to hear that 26 Mendaki staff were involved in an accident yesterday. I wish them a speedy recovery. 

“Mendaki will render all the necessary assistance and support to their staff.”

Mendaki said that the retreat happens every year for its employees to discuss work plans for the upcoming year. The last time the retreat was held overseas was in 2012.