(Adnkronos) – A road accident in the early morning hours caused the death of at least 15 people in northern Malaysia, when a bus carrying university students crashed into a minivan along the East-West Highway, near the city of Gerik, close to the border with Thailand. Authorities confirmed that among the victims, mostly between 21 and 23 years old, there are 14 students from the Sultan Idris Education University (Upsi), and a bus assistant. Another 33 people were injured, 7 of whom, in critical condition, were transported to the hospital, according to police and rescue services.
For Malaysia, this is the most serious road accident in over a decade, which occurred while the students were returning to the school campus after an Islamic holiday weekend. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered the Ministry of Higher Education to assist the families of the victims and said that he and his wife Azizah are “deeply saddened” by the tragedy. “Heartbreaking disasters like this, which often repeat themselves, must be a warning to everyone to be cautious and not to rush – Anwar wrote on Facebook – Your lives are too precious and cannot be replaced”.
“The journey was going well until suddenly I smelled burning rubber or brakes – said Wan Muhammad Hanifah Wan Azman, 22, a Upsi student, to the New Straits Times newspaper – The bus accelerated and swerved to avoid a car in front, then it overturned”. “It all happened so fast. One moment we were on the road, the next everything went black – added the shocked student – When I opened my eyes, there were people crying and asking for help. Bodies everywhere, some bleeding, others motionless”.
“The images of the scene show a green bus overturned on its right side with the rear destroyed, while the red minivan ended up in a ditch, with the windows blown out. It seems that the bus lost control and rear-ended the minivan,” said Perak State Police Chief Hisam Nordin, adding that officers are investigating whether the accident was caused by human negligence or a technical fault.
