Gerik, Malaysia — A bus carrying university students collided with a minivan in northern Malaysia early Monday, killing at least 15 people, local authorities confirmed.
Thirteen passengers died at the scene near Gerik town on the East-West Highway, a route known for its danger and frequent accidents. Two more later died in hospital. Most of the victims were students from Sultan Idris Education University.
“It appeared the bus lost control and struck the minivan from behind,” said Perak State Police Chief Hisam Nordin.
Photos from rescue teams showed the green bus overturned on its right side, its rear end badly damaged. The red minivan was found off the road in a ditch, its windows shattered.
The state disaster management agency described a chaotic scene. “Some victims escaped on their own, others were thrown from the bus, while some remained trapped inside,” they said.
Rescue workers used hydraulic cutters to free passengers from the wreckage. Among the dead were 14 students aged between 21 and 23, and a bus attendant. Thirty-three others were injured, seven of whom were in critical condition.
The bus had been travelling from Jerteh in northeastern Malaysia when the crash occurred shortly after 1 a.m. local time.
A witness, Razali, told the New Straits Times it was “a chaotic scene with students screaming and crying for help.” Many were trapped beneath the wreckage, he said.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Police Chief Hisam said they were considering whether human error or mechanical failure played a role.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed deep sorrow. He urged caution on the country’s roads, writing on Facebook: “Heartbreaking disasters like these should be a lesson for us all your lives are too precious and can’t be replaced.”
Road accidents remain a serious problem in Malaysia, with an average of 18 fatalities daily, according to government data. The East-West Highway, which links the eastern and western coasts, is known for frequent collisions, including incidents involving animals.
The worst bus disaster in Malaysia occurred in 2013 when an express bus crashed down a ravine northeast of Kuala Lumpur, killing 37 people.
