Deadly Gerik bus tragedy shakes nation
KUALA LUMPUR: The nation was shaken once again in the early hours today by a tragic accident that claimed the lives of 15 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).
The fatal crash occurred at 1.10 am at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB) near Tasik Banding in Gerik, Perak, involving a chartered bus transporting UPSI students back to their campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, and a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) that was traveling in the same direction, from Jeli, Kelantan to Gerik.
This heartbreaking tragedy comes less than a month after a fatal crash on May 13, which claimed the lives of nine members of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) in Teluk Intan, Perak.
According to reports, the crash occurred when the bus rear-ended the Alza, causing the bus to overturn and the MPV to veer into a roadside ditch.
A total of 48 victims were accounted for, including 13 who perished at the scene and were taken to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh, and two others who succumbed to their injuries at Gerik Hospital.
Seven more victims were admitted to the red zone (critical condition), 20 to the yellow zone (semi-critical), and six to the green zone (minor injuries) at Gerik Hospital.
At press time, authorities have yet to release an official list of the deceased or injured victims.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, in a Facebook post, announced that UPSI has established an operations room and hotline.
Accommodation assistance for the victims' families is also being coordinated with Ungku Omar Polytechnic in Ipoh and the Gerik Community College.
UPSI vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff said that the university has assigned one staff member to each affected family to ensure that all next of kin receive appropriate assistance.
For the record, fatal bus accidents have plagued Malaysian roads for years.
On Dec 24, 2016, a total of 14 people were killed and 16 were injured when an express bus plunged 20 feet into a ravine at KM137 of the North-South Expressway near Kampung Jayo, Muar, Johor.
Malaysia's worst recorded bus accident occurred on Aug 21, 2013, when 37 people, including the driver, died and 16 were injured after a bus carrying 52 passengers plunged 60 meters into a ravine at KM3.6 of Jalan Genting Highlands-Kuala Lumpur.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
UPSI student mourns friends lost in tragic East-West Highway crash
IPOH: An attempt by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student to check on the whereabouts of two friends who were travelling on a chartered bus ended in heartbreak when he learned that both were killed in a crash early this morning. Mohamad Alif Nasnawi, 21, never imagined that the messages he sent to Nur Ayuni Maslan and Muhammad Adib Hazim Halim, both aged 21, last night would remain unanswered. His two friends were among the 15 UPSI students who perished in a fatal accident at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB) near Tasik Banding in Gerik while returning to campus from the East Coast after celebrating Aidiladha. 'Last night I texted them, asking where they were, but there was no reply. I knew they were taking the bus, and this morning I found out they were involved in the accident,' he said when met at the Forensics Department of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) in Ipoh. Mohamad Alif, who is from Perak said, using chartered buses is a common practice among UPSI students from the East Coast when returning to university after semester breaks. Mohamad Alif who appeared sombre said, the last time he spoke with Muhammad Adib was when his friend expressed interest in ordering custom shirts for their student batch. 'He was a very kind person, quiet, and didn't talk much. His passing is deeply felt. I'm deeply saddened by what happened and feel a great sense of loss. They weren't just friends, they were like family,' he said. In the 1.10 am tragedy, 15 UPSI students were killed when the tour bus they were travelling in overturned in a collision with a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on the JRTB route in Gerik. The tragic fatal accident sent shock waves throughout the country.
Malay Mail
40 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Unanswered messages: UPSI student grieves loss of two friends in fatal crash
IPOH, June 9 — An attempt by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student to check on the whereabouts of two friends who were travelling on a chartered bus ended in heartbreak when he learned that both were killed in a crash early this morning. Mohamad Alif Nasnawi, 21, never imagined that the messages he sent to Nur Ayuni Maslan and Muhammad Adib Hazim Halim, both aged 21, last night would remain unanswered. His two friends were among the 15 UPSI students who perished in a fatal accident at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB) near Tasik Banding in Gerik while returning to campus from the East Coast after celebrating Aidiladha. 'Last night I texted them, asking where they were, but there was no reply. I knew they were taking the bus, and this morning I found out they were involved in the accident,' he said when met at the Forensics Department of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) in Ipoh. Mohamad Alif, who is from Perak said, using chartered buses is a common practice among UPSI students from the East Coast when returning to university after semester breaks. Mohamad Alif who appeared sombre said, the last time he spoke with Muhammad Adib was when his friend expressed interest in ordering custom shirts for their student batch. 'He was a very kind person, quiet, and didn't talk much. His passing is deeply felt. I'm deeply saddened by what happened and feel a great sense of loss. They weren't just friends, they were like family,' he said. In the 1.10am tragedy, 15 UPSI students were killed when the tour bus they were travelling in overturned in a collision with a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on the JRTB route in Gerik. The tragic fatal accident sent shock waves throughout the country. — Bernama
Malay Mail
40 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Gerik crash: Banknote bouquet was Muhammad Adib Hazim Halim's final birthday gift to his mum
GERIK, June 9 — A bouquet of flowers crafted from banknotes, lovingly arranged as a birthday gift for his mother, became the final present from Muhammad Adib Hazim Halim, 21, before he perished in the tragic crash along the East-West Highway (JRTB) at Banun, Gerik, early this morning. According to his elder brother, Muhammad Aiman Hazman Halim, 32, the bouquet was a token of love for their mother, Rus Lina Abd Razak, 69, in conjunction with her birthday celebration held with the family on Sunday. 'Adib really enjoyed creating decorative crafts. Previously, he also made a bouquet for our sister when she completed her Suksis training,' he said when met at the Forensics Unit of Gerik Hospital. Muhammad Aiman said Adib was a devoted son, a memoriser of the Quran (tahfiz), and dearly loved by all his siblings. He said the family learned about the accident after seeing viral images of the crash circulating on social media. 'Before the incident, ummi (our mother) had taken a photo of the bus Adib boarded and shared it in our family WhatsApp group. So, when we saw the viral photos, we immediately knew Adib was involved in the accident. 'Ummi also cried quietly in her room before her birthday celebration without knowing why she felt overwhelmed with emotion — she never imagined this would be the reason,' he said. The funeral prayer for Muhammad Adib Hazim, a Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) sutdent, will be held at the surau of Kampung Pasir Badak, Besut, Terengganu and he will be laid to rest at the nearby cemetery. In the crash that around 1.10 am, 15 UPSI students were killed after the chartered bus they were travelling in from Jerteh, Terengganu to Tanjung Malim, Perak overturned in a collision with a Perodua Alza MPV on the JRTB near Tasik Banding, Perak. The crash also left 33 others injured, including the bus driver and co-driver, as well as the driver and three passengers of the Alza. — Bernama
