KUALA LUMPUR: Nine residents at the Kerinchi public housing project (PPR) flat faced terrifying moments as the elevator they were in crashed from the fifth floor to the ground.
With the drop estimated to be at a height of 15 metres, it is believed the elevator car's braking sytem had malfunctioned in the incident at 2.30pm today.
Ahmad Shahid Imran, 24, said a majority of the flat's residents were returning from Friday prayers when it happened.
He said the elevator car hurtled downwards with its doors open.
"Many screamed in fear. I only managed to grab hold of the elevator's button panel and could not think as everything happened so fast.
"If I'm not mistaken, there were nine people in the elevator car, including a woman, a child and a disabled man.
"From the total, some sprained and broke their legs. It is a horrifying experience I will not be able to forget," he said when met at the location of the incident, here, today.
Another resident, Haliza Hassan, 37, said her husband and son were believed to have suffered broken legs as they were in the elevator when it crashed to the ground.
Mohd Riduan Norsani, 35, and Mohd Haziq Zakwan, 10, are now at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) for treatment, she informed.
"I urge the local authorities to take stern action in this matter, do not wait for there to be a death before taking action," she said.
Another resident Idris Abd Samad, 60, said a similar incident happened at the same block last year.
"Same incident last year, but no one died, just minor injuries.
"Usually, local authorities maintain the elevators in this PPR area but after a few days, the elevators will break down again," he said.
It is learned that prior to today's incident, 10 residents boarded the elevator car from the ground floor, but when it arrived on the fifth floor, one resident alighted and the elevator suddenly malfunctioned, resulting in it crashing without any warning.
Pantai Fire and Rescue Station commander of operations Ramli Mohamed said they received a call at 2.40pm.
He said all victims were sent to UMMC for treatment.
"The victims included a 10-year-old child and a 69-year-old senior citizen. The rescue operation lasted 15 minutes," he said.