It seems like most electrical wires in Jakarta only exist as part of a tangled up mess hanging above our heads, like accidents waiting to happen. Well, such fears are not totally unfounded, as electrical wires did lead to one tragic death on Wednesday.
A woman, identified as 49-year-old Suriyah, was walking her grandchild to school on Wednesday morning (while it was raining heavily). While they were on Jalan Percetakan Negara in Johor Baru, Central Jakarta, Suriyah reportedly touched an electrical pole, which electrocuted and killed her on the spot.
State-owned power company PLN investigated the pole and found that it was supporting an exposed electrical wire, which could have caused the electric shock when it came in contact with rainwater.
The company said the accident was caused by factors beyond their control.
“Usually trees are the reason (for exposed wires), with winds causing them to short circuit. Could be that (the tree branches) fell on the pole, there are many possibilities,” said PLN First Director Sofyan Basir, as quoted by Viva yesterday.
PLN communications manager, Dini Sulistyowati, said the company has replaced wires around the area of the incident to prevent a repeat of the accident. PLN workers have also cut down tree branches that could potentially expose electrical wires.
PLN has pledged to donate an undisclosed amount of money for the victim’s family.
