IT WAS a highly traumatic morning today for school children and teachers when the pier of the Pulau Pababag jetty collapsed in Semporna this morning, sending some 25 pupils into the sea and teachers heroically jumping in to save them but fortunately it was during low tide as seen from a viral video.

There were no casualties according to the deputy director of the Sabah State Education Department, Abidin Marjan who said the 6.45am incident occurred when school children were alighting from boats to walk across the pier.

Two students suffered minor injuries to their lips and hands, after hitting the wood and concrete segments of the pier.

“During the incident, two teachers jumped in to rescue the pupils. The teachers and students involved were allowed to go home and there were no serious injuries,” he said.

Abidin said the village jetty was part of the pier leading to the Pulau Pababag primary school.

Today, a one-minute 30-second video had gone viral showing pupils being rescued after the pier in Kampung Pababag collapsed.

In Kota Kinabalu, Sulabayan community development leader Abdul Manan Indanan hopes an immediate allocation from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development can be allocated to rebuild the collapsed pier on Pababag Island.

“I happened to be meeting the minister (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) today and showed him a video of the pier collapsing and the students involved. We hope construction can be carried out soon, we will also meet the village head and the school for further action,” he said in Semporna today.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry (MOE) in a statement today said it has taken steps through the Semporna District Education Office to investigate the incident and provide immediate assistance to all concerned.

“The MOE views the incident seriously and will ensure that safety aspects are improved by mandating the use of life jackets and also checks on the pier structure.

“The ministry will also hold an engagement session with stakeholders and local authorities in the near future to discuss proposed infrastructure improvements at the jetty to ensure there is no recurrence,” read the statement.

According to the statement, psychosocial support will be provided to the teachers and students involved, besides requesting the local government to provide a safer alternative route for students, parents and teachers going to the school. – Bernama, January 30, 2023.