Five people died after a barn supported by wooden stilts containing 3 tons of corn collapsed on them in Nirannuang village, Gowa regency, South Sulawesi, on Monday.
The incident occurred after strong winds and rain forced Daeng Rama, 30, the owner of the corn field and dozens of his family members who were harvesting corn to take shelter in the barn near Daeng’s corn field.
Madi, a village official, said that there were 13 people in the barn when it collapsed. Four children were in the corn storage area, while Daeng and remaining eight people were taking shelter under the barn.
“Nine people took shelter under the barn while removing corn from their cobs. And suddenly it collapsed on them,” Madi said.
The four children that survived ran to the village to ask for help. Villagers who came to the barn quickly moved the remaining wood and corn only to find the dead bodies of Hanifah, 75, Kasma, 33, Danu, 45, and Herman, 20, under the ruins.
Daeng and Haria, 40, who were badly injured were brought to Syekh Yusuf Goa Hospital. Daeng passed away at the hospital on Monday evening while Haria is still in intensive care.
Madi said the 4×4 meter stilts made of bamboo and wooden planks were not strong enough to hold 3 tons of corn, so the strong wind had caused it to collapse.
