KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 – An accident in which an express bus plunged 60 metres into a ravine at KM3.5 Genting Highlands Wednesday afternoon, was the worst crash to have occurred in the area in the past 17 years.
Thirty seven people have so far, been confirmed killed in the 2.45pm tragedy.
At the time, the bus was believed to be ferrying 49 passengers from Genting Highlands to the federal capital.
The other major accident was in July 1996 when 17 people, including six children, were killed when the bus they were travelling in, fell 100 metres into a ravine after a family day celebration in Genting Highlands.
The Genting Highlands resort is a popular holiday destination for locals and foreign tourists from Singapore, India, Taiwan, Japan and Indonesia.
The following is a chronology of bus accident horrors in Genting Highlands, Pahang:
March 5, 2012 – Two tourists from India died while 20 other passengers were injured when a tour bus overturned at KM4.5 of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway near here while on the way back from Genting Highlands to the federal capital.
Oct 29, 2010 – Seven people were killed while another 20 were reported injured when a tourist bus skidded and overturned at Genting Sempah while descending from Genting Highlands.
Sept 2, 2010 – Eighteen people were injured when a bus ferrying a group on a sightseeing tour, skidded and overturned at KM35.1 of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway while returning from Genting Highlands.
June 3, 2008 – Two passengers of a tour bus died while 41 others were injured, including 17 seriously, when the vehicle skidded and plunged into a nine-metre ravine at KM22.5 of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway.
Nov 20, 2006 – Three officers of Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand (PEA) were killed when a double-decker bus they were travelling in, overturned on their return from Genting Highlands at KM13 of Jalan Genting Highlands-Batang Kali.
Nov 14, 1999 – A 12-year-old boy from Singapore died when a bus on its way to the republic from Genting Highlands fell into a ravine.
Dec 31, 1996 – Thirty people were injured when a bus crashed into a ravine at KM4 Genting Highlands near the Chin Swee temple while on its way to Kuala Lumpur.
July 15, 1996 – Seventeen people, including six children, died when the bus they were travelling in, fell 100 metres into a ravine when returning from a family day celebration at Genting Highlands.
– BERNAMA
