A GROUP of teachers and students were left in shock after the wooden boardwalk they were on collapsed during a house visit at a water village on an island near Kota Kinabalu.
The incident occurred yesterday in Kampung Lok Kurai, one of the six villages at Gaya Island, a water village known for its precarious stilt homes and fragile infrastructure.
Four teachers, including a school principal, and two students were crossing the bridge as part of a visit when it suddenly gave way.
Fortunately, there was barely any water at the time due to the low tide and no one was seriously injured.
Sabah Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin confirmed the incident.
“Four of the teachers and two students fell when the bridge collapsed,” he said.
The victims were rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on the mainland for treatment, but they have since returned home to recover.
The school principal, though shaken, is reported to be stable and on leave.
“I just spoke to him, and thankfully, he’s doing well,” Raisin added.
Raisin expressed frustration over the state of the bridge, which many locals claim had been in disrepair for some time.
“This is the result of poor maintenance. It’s high time the bridges in Pulau Gaya were properly repaired,” he said.
Gaya Island is located approximately a 15-minute boat ride from the jetty in Kota Kinabalu. - October 25, 2024
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