Genting bus tragedy (Updated)

UPDATES

This is the latest on the tragedy by NST,

(Note to NST online editors : I had tried not to cut and paste from your website and instead just provide the link for readers to go to your webpage but I just can't seem to do so. Please do something to fix your links if you want to improve your readership. Also please improve your website's presence at Google news if you want more readers to read your stories.)

UPDATE - GENTING BUS TRAGEDY: Death toll climbs to 37

KUALA LUMPUR: At least 37 people were killed while 16 others were injured when an express bus overturned and plunged into a ravine at Km 3.5 Jalan Genting, near Chin Swee Temple at 2.45pm today.

The dead comprised 24 men and 13 women including the 40-something bus driver.

The crash is believed to be one of the worst in the nation's history.

Rescuers worked frantically to locate the bodies and the survivors, many of whom were flung out of the bus as it rolled down the 60m ravine.

It is understood that at least five were seriously injured.

The survivors were sent to the Selayang and Kuala Lumpur hospitals within an hour of the accident. 

The bus, which was initially believed to be carrying 53 passengers, was headed for the city at the time.

However, rescuers said the number of passengers could be more than that as they recovered another three bodies from the wreckage.

As at 6.50pm, rescuers, working in the rain, were still trying to recover the bodies, some of which were flung metres away from the bus.

The passengers are believed to be local and foreign tourists including from Indonesia, Thai and Bangladesh.

Rescuers told the NST that the trees and undergrowth had slowed down the momentum of the bus as it rolled down the ravine. 

Emergency and rescue personnel brought in a crane and jerry-rigged a bucket recovery system to haul up the survivors and the dead.

The task is labourous as only two people can be hauled up at a time.

At 7pm, Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department chief Azizan Ismail said rescue operations would continue for at least another two hours. 

Rescue personnel from various agencies were dispatched from Bentong, Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan.

Sultan Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah was among those who rushed to the scene of the crash to view the situation and find out about the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, Bernama quoted Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) Emergency and Trauma Department head Datuk Seri Dr Abu Hassan Ashaari saying that five bodies had been sent to the hospital by 6.28pm.

Other hospitals the victims were sent to were the Sungai Buloh Hospital, Selayang Hospital and the Bentong Hospital.

To date, Selayang Hospital has released the names of the eight victims,  HKL (five), the Sungai Buloh Hospital and Bentong Hospital two each.

He said the victims were aged between 19 and 50 years. 

Bentong District Police chief Supt Mohd Mansor Mohd Nor said the search-and-rescue operation for the victims has been escalated using a special detection device to find and remove victims from a ravine. 

As of 8pm, two victims remained to be brought up from the ravine.

"After the victims are found, the rescue team will lift the bus to determine that no other victims had been thrown out of the bus or are trapped at the location of incident," he said.  

He said that among the 23 victims who were killed and had been winched up were Bangladesh, Thailand and China nationals.

  

He said a preliminary investigation revealed that the bus, which was descending from Genting Highlands, went out of control, skidded, hit a wall and plunged into the ravine.    

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said a probe has been ordered to find out the reason behind the tragic accident.

Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chief executive Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal announced the formation of a special task force to orobe into the crash.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and survivors through Twitter tonight, and expressed hope that the rescue operation would be completed soon.

Read more: UPDATE - GENTING BUS TRAGEDY: Death toll climbs to 37 - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/font-color-red-update-genting-bus-tragedy-font-death-toll-climbs-to-37-1.341423#ixzz2ccD0yXZW

ORIGINAL POSTING

This is just in via NST alert,

NST 21/08 : Genting Bus Tragedy: Rescuers confirmed 33 people died while 16 others injured in crash. Rescue work still ongoing.

I have to admit that I was shocked when I saw the death counts of this tragedy.

Here is an early report of the crash by BBC -

Malaysia crash: Many feared dead as bus plunges into ravine

My heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their life in this tragedy.

My prayers for those who were injured.

I hope to monitor for the latest on this disaster and will update this posting accordingly.