Wisma putra monitoring crane tragedy incident

PETALING JAYA: Wisma Putra is monitoring the situation in Mecca where a crane crashed into the Grand Mosque during bad weather on Friday.

The Foreign Ministry said the consulategeneral in Jeddah and Tabung Haji were assisting in this.

“No casualties among our citizens have been reported by the local authorities.

“Those injured are being treated in several hospitals in Mecca,” said the ministry.

Wisma Putra has also offered its condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Madius Tangau issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victims.

He prayed for the swift recovery of the injured, especially the ministry’s industrial division deputy secretary Datuk Mohd Nor Azman Hassan, 44, who injured his backbone in the incident.

“I pray that he (Dr Mohd Nor) and all the injured Malaysian pilgrims swiftly recover from physical and psychological trauma and continue performing the haj,” said Madius in his statement.

In Jitra, 52yearold Shahidan Saad’s family is hoping that he is getting treatment at a hospital.

He is listed among the eight missing Malaysian pilgrims.

Shahidan’s eldest brother Sobri, 56, believes that his brother might have sustained injury when the crane collapsed at the Grand Mosque.

“I believe he went to one of the many hospitals treating injured pilgrims.

“It will take time for the authorities to locate him,” he said at his house at Kampung Kodiang Lama Luar about 36km from Alor Setar.

Sobri said the whole family was praying for the safety of all the missing pilgrims.

“Through my family’s whatsApp group, I was told Shahidan went to Masjidil Haram with a roommate from Sik,” he added.