Deadly bus crash in Malaysia claims 15 lives including 14 students

A devastating bus accident in Malaysia has left at least 15 people dead, the majority of them university students, in what is being called the deadliest road incident in the country in over a decade. The crash occurred near the town of Gerik on the heavily trafficked East-West Highway, close to the Thai border.

According to Perak State Police Chief Hisam Nordin, the collision happened when a bus apparently lost control and rammed into a minivan from behind. Emergency images from the scene show the green bus overturned on its side with severe rear-end damage, while the red minivan was thrown into a roadside ditch with shattered windows.

The Perak state disaster agency reported that several passengers were ejected from the bus or managed to escape on their own, while others remained trapped inside and had to be rescued with hydraulic tools.

Among the victims were 14 students from Sultan Idris Education University and a bus attendant. Emergency services also confirmed that 33 others sustained injuries, including seven who are in critical condition and have been hospitalized. Most of the victims were between 21 and 23 years old. The group was traveling from Jerteh in northeastern Malaysia when the crash occurred shortly after 1:00 a.m. local time.

Witnesses described the aftermath as chaotic, with injured students screaming and crying for help. One observer, identified as Razali, noted that several victims were pinned inside the wreckage.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences and instructed the Higher Education Ministry to support the affected families. He emphasized the need for greater road safety awareness, warning that such recurring tragedies should serve as a wake-up call. “Life is precious and irreplaceable,” he said in a Facebook post.

Malaysia is known for having a high incidence of road fatalities, with an average of 18 people dying daily due to traffic accidents. The East-West Highway, which links the east and west coasts of the Malaysian peninsula, is notorious for frequent crashes, often involving vehicles and wildlife.

This latest accident is the worst since 2013, when a bus plunged into a ravine near Kuala Lumpur, killing 37 people.