dead in Malaysia's worst road accident when a bus plunged into a 100-foot deep ravine as it made its way down from the Genting Highlands resort in Pahang this afternoon.
Rescuers gave the death toll as police dog units scoured the undergrowth in the ravine for any more survivors of the accident that happened just before 3pm, some four km from the popular hill resort. The driver also died in the accident, police said.
The 16 passengers rescued from the accident site have been sent to hospitals in Selayang and Kuala Lumpur to have their injuries treated. Some of them suffered severe injuries, said the authorities.
There were a total of 53 people aboard the bus which came from the resort, 55km away from Kuala Lumpur. Initial reports had put the total number aboard the bus at 49.
The ravine, which is inaccessible by road, has forced rescue workers to use a crane to lift passengers.
The Genting Highlands road has seen its fair share of fatal bus accidents but this is said to be the worst along that stretch and in the country since Merdeka.
Before today's crash, the worst accident in Malaysia over the past 10 years occurred near Cameron Highlands on December 20, 2010, when 28 people were killed after a double-decker bus overturned.
The accident occurred near the 15km milestone on the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai road.
It claimed 22 lives on the spot, while the other six died after being taken to hospital. All the passengers were Thai nationals on their way back to Kuala Lumpur from the hill resort, in the company of three Malaysians - the bus driver, his assistant and a tour guide.
MORE TO COME.
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