Sunday, January 11, 2009

One injured, another trapped in temple limestone outcrop collapse

IPOH, Sun:

One person was badly injured and another is believed to be trapped after part of a limestone outcrop collapsed at the Perak Cave Temple along Jalan Kuala Kangsar here today.

Fifteen people were rescued by Fire & Rescue personnel following the incident about 3.30pm, said a spokesman of the Ipoh Fire & Rescue Department. He said the injured person had been sent to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital while 20 Fire & Rescue personnel were looking for the trapped person. The spokesman said all the visitors to the temple at the time of the incident were Malaysians except for one tourist from Vietnam. The Ipoh police headquarters is scheduled to hold a news conference to provide details of the incident. — BERNAMA

That's the news I read with shock just now. Part of Perak Tong temple collapsed? How could this be, I've just paid this temple a short visit a few days back.

You see, I've consulted a 'sifu' (Feng Shui master) on recommendations from a friend and he told me to get hold of a 'Thousand Hands Goddess Of Mercy' as the deity was said to be my guardian angel and would protect me from harm. Nowadays, I need all the protection I could get, not because I'm living life on the fast lane, but because with rising crimes everywhere, you'll need all the precautionary actions you can take. And that includes getting yourself an amulet. OK, OK, the amulet was suppose to also help me in my career...Hmm...this could be the MAIN reason I'm determined to get that amulet, even if that means the cave temple the amulet was supposed to be available for sale would give way and collapsed on you....


The Entrance...


Inside View...Noticed the giant murals?


Buddha, Sitting Tall And Mighty...


Painting of Goddess Of Mercy...At least 8 storey high

And here I've been exaggerating a bit. I didn't know the cave will collapse or else I wouldn't been there in the first place. Who will? But to read that one person was badly injured troubles me. Who is the unlucky one? Could it be one of the temple helpers? I visit this temple from time to time (Because there's not much place to visit, sigh.....) Therefore, I befriended a few people at the temple. Just crossed my finger whoever the victim is will have a speedy recovery. Why must tragedies happen?

Back to the amulet, no I did not manage to buy my amulet because there were no stock. So I had to toot elsewhere and luckily managed to get hold of one. And I was told, 'specially flown' in from Hong Kong, China.

Back to the cave temple, one may wonder, if there are really a deity, a guardian angel, the unseen power to be would have prevented the incident from happening in the first place. Yes that's true. So sad. That means there are no guardian angels? All wishful thinking? Fantasy?

Hmm....the incident occurred at 3.30pm, that means, near the evening, when tourists number are low. Just imagined if the incident happened in the morning, during peak time for tourists arrival. The news may read differently. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPIC!

Happened at night and the poor security guard would have crushed to death on the spot. Caves are not meant for temples to be built. Especially limestone caves. Water will dilute limestone easily, thats why you will find stalacmites and stalactites in limestone caves. So, for tragedies such as this, please don't blame the deities...


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

How old is that temple?

ahlock said...

Sorry, I've been away for a few days. The temple is above 80 years old and have over 200 paintings, big and small, by visiting monks from all over the world.

Anonymous said...

Wow,this temple is quite old. I hope the injured victim is getting well soon

Matt said...

Absolutely amazing! I would love to visit, even with the "danger". 8-) Beautiful pictures!!

Anonymous said...

I have seen those temples many times as I drive along the Highway and the old Butterworth - K.L road.

It often made me wonder just when there would be a disaster like this. Limestone as we all know isn't stable.

ahlock said...

Windmill: Yeah, I agree with you. Limestone caves are not supposed to be inhabited. You visit Ipoh often?

Related Posts with Thumbnails