Bridge Collapse Death Toll Rises To Eleven, 34 Still Missing In East Kalimantan

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- The number of people killed in a bridge collapse in East Kalimantan Saturday has risen to 11 after more bodies were recovered by search-and-rescue teams this afternoon, according to police. The Indonesian police headquarters here also said that 34 people are still missing. Its public relations division chief, Inspector General Saud Usman Nasution, told a press conference here that 34 people were injured in the incident. The Kutai Kartanegara Bridge collapsed at about 4.30 pm (5.30 pm in Malaysia) on Saturday during heavy traffic, resulting in vehicles falling into the Mahakam river. The 710-metre long bridge was one of the longest suspension bridges in Indonesia. Its suspended section was 270 metres long. The design of the bridge is similar to that of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, United States. Built in 1995 and completed in 2001, the bridge was among the most important links for the land route between Tenggarong and Samarinda and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan. Many people were shocked at the collapse of the bridge which was only 10 years old. -- BERNAMA