Muscat: The body of a man found in an accident at a private marble factory in Ibri in Dahira Governorate has also been found. The death toll from the accident has risen to 11. Authorities say three people are still missing. The Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority is conducting an intensive search for them.
The search is being carried out with the help of state – of – the – art machinery. The search is hampered by occasional rock falls. Six people were killed in an accident in the Al-Ard area of Ibri province around 12 midnight last Saturday. The bodies of five people were found during a rescue operation in the following days.
Two bodies were found on Tuesday and Wednesday and one on Thursday. There are unconfirmed reports that three Indians were among the dead. The first layer of marble, three meters thick and 200 meters high, collapsed. Indian and Pakistani workers were on the scene at the time of the accident. The search is being led by search and rescue teams from Dahira Governorate.
Locals and industry experts say such incidents are caused by contract companies neglecting workplace safety. The Inspector General of Police and Customs and members of the National Council for Emergency Management also visited the site yesterday to see the progress of the rescue operation. Authorities have demanded an investigation into the incident.