UPDATE:
Recent reports suggest that the Genting bus crash that took the lives of 37 people was caused by a tiff between the bus driver and a taxi driver on the road. According to survivor Rashidah Buia, the bus driver was yelling profanities to a taxi driver. Mussamat Sirajum, sister-in-law to Rashidah said:
“The bus driver then overtook the taxi and started speeding at which time he hit the barrier and fell.” [Source]
Tan Ming Shing, another survivor, claimed that the driver had been speeding down the slope despite knowing the brakes were faulty.
“It was like he deliberately wanted to kill us. He made no effort to swerve to the emergency escape ramp which was directly before the spot where the bus went over the ravine,” Tan explained. “Barely minutes after starting the journey to go downhill, the bus nearly hit a pillar”.
“Several hundred metres on, the driver made a sudden turn and this caused a Honda City to nearly hit us,” he said. He then said the bus swerved again, and then crashed into the ravine.
14-year-old survivor, Rwaanok Arefin said the driver started driving angrily after his encounter with the Honda City driver. He said that some of the passengers scolded Lim and asked him to slow down.
“This only angered the driver further and made him drive even faster. It was then that he lost control and the bus plunged into the ravine,” said Rwaanok, who lost his father in the crash.
Another survivor, Nur Syamimi Ja’afar, 25, said she saw Tan gesturing angrily at the Honda City driver and heard him grumbling furiously while driving the bus even faster. Nur Syamimi was with her younger sister, Nur Fathiah, 21, in the bus when the accident took place. Nur Syamimi broke her arm in the crash.
“The bodies were covered in blood and people were screaming in pain. I even heard a man screaming for help outside the bus. He may have been flung out but I could not help him. I couldn’t move my left arm.” [Source]
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The bus driver of the Genting bus crash apparently had over six years driving experience before joining Genting Highlands Transport two months ago. The bus driver, who died on the scene, was identified as Lim Kok Ho. A relative of Lim said that the driver left behind his two children and ex-wife.
A representative from the bus company said the driver was relatively new, but had all the relevant documentation and licenses that qualifies him as a driver.
The bus, WGA 4136, had also gone through the necessary checks and routine inspections with the authorities and was certified roadworthy. [Source]
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Prime Minister Najib Razak also took to Twitter to wish his condolences for the bus crash victim’s families. He wishes the agencies and rescue departments to do their best.
The authorities have also released the names of some of the injured victims warded at Selayang Hospital. Their conditions range from semi-critical and critical.
Semi-critical:
1. Raawnok Arefin, 14, (male) from Bangladesh.
2. Nur Syamimi Ja’afar, 25, (female), Malaysian.
3. Nur Fathiah Ja’afar, 21, (female) – Malaysian.
4. Rashidah Buyah, 50, (female) from Bangladesh.
5. Andri Purwaidi, 25, (female) from Indonesia.
Critical:
6. Nurul Quraitul Aini, 19, (female) Malaysian
7. Rezyan Arefin, 24, (male) from Bangladesh
8. Nur Fridil Gusman, 23, (male) from Indonesia.
(Victims Numbers 1 and 7; 2 and 3 are siblings)
The 16 survivors comprised seven Malaysians, three Indonesians, four Bangladeshis, one Thai national, and one Korean.
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Thirty-seven people lost their lives in one of Malaysia’s worst road accidents. It is reported that the bus carried 53 passengers on board when it plunged into a ravine near Genting Highlands.
24 males and 13 females were confirmed dead.
The cause of the accident has yet to be confirmed, but it is believed that the driver lost control of the bus when it rammed a divider before plunging down a gorge.
[Source]
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17 people were successfully pulled out from the bus.
A bus carrying over 40 passengers fell into a deep ravine on the way down from Genting Highlands today.
According to the Fire & Rescue Department of Malaysia‘s Facebook page, a bus that is estimated to be ferrying about 49 passengers fell into a 150 feet-deep ravine in a tragic accident which happened around 2.45pm.
It’s hard to predict that how many passengers were in the bus but rescuers are currently trying their best to save as many victims as they can. The bus plunged into ravine at KM3, Lebuh Raya Karak heading towards Kuala Lumpur.
Sources report that 15 passengers are feared dead.
More to come.
Photos Source: Lowyat.Net Forum
