SMPN 130 Pamerah Wall Collapses, Residents' Access Is Closed

JAKARTA - The barrier wall for SDN 01 and 02 as well as SMPN 130 in Kota Bambu Utara Village, Palmerah, West Jakarta, collapsed and hit a motorcycle and the front of a resident's house, Thursday. The incident occurred at around 17.35 WIB, when it was drizzling in the area.

Heni (55), a resident around the scene, suspected that the incident was caused by a wall structure that was unable to support the excavation ground of a renovation project that was taking place in the school environment, as well as heavy rains that had previously flushed the local area.

"Two days ago it rained heavily, plus there was drilling to build the school's foundation. So, it's getting denser (the land for the excavation of the project that has accumulated behind the wall), so it collapsed," Heni said, quoting ANTARA, Friday, November 21.

Fortunately, he said, there were no casualties or injuries as a result of the incident. However, four motorbikes were hit by a wall.

"The children wanted to pray. Luckily there was a small alley, they entered. Alhamdulillah, there were no victims, but there were motorbikes that fell. If there were casualties, Alhamdulillah, no," said Heni.

He said residents at the scene panicked when the wall collapsed. They tried to save themselves.

"It's panic, when we left the house, it turned out that there was a school wall collapsing," said Heni.

Reportedly, the collapsed wall closed the access to the alley so that residents who were about to pass had to take a rotating route. The rubble of the wall also closed access to two residents' houses which were right in front of the wall.

In addition, the ruins of the wall also pulled the power cable down to almost as high as adults. Although the collapse of the wall did not cause severe damage to the house building, residents were asked not to enter the house for a while.

Police lines have been installed around the scene so that local residents do not pass, as well as avoid casualties if a similar incident is repeated.

In addition to the collapsed wall, the barrier wall that stands fresh also looks tilted and fragile. All residents, including children, were advised by officers to stay away from the location.

Until now, the school renovation project is still ongoing. A number of project vehicles appear to be in and out of the construction area.