Rescue operations leader Khairul Azuwan Ibrahim said they were working to stabilise the construction beams before they could lift the crane trapping the victims underneath.

Three workers fell to their death after the launcher crane toppled over, crushing a car, at the construction site near the Puncak Banyan Condominium, Cheras, yesterday morning.

The fire department said the driver of the car was seriously injured as steel from the crane crushed the vehicle.

The three workers were confirmed dead at the scene, with two of them falling onto the road from a height of 36.5m and the third worker getting stuck on the scaffolding.

Meanwhile, works minister Fadillah Yusof said an order has been issued to immediately stop construction and maintenance work there.

He said the stop-work order was issued to enable an investigation to be carried out into the incident.

Fadillah said various agencies, including the Construction Industry Development Board, the Malaysian Highway Authority and the Fire and Rescue Department, were evaluating new safety proposals before allowing construction work to proceed at the location concerned.