Malaysia Bus Accident in Gerik Kills 15, Including 14 University Students

At least 15 people, including 14 university students, were killed in the Malaysia bus accident near Gerik when a university bus collided with a minivan on the East-West Highway.

In the wee hours of the morning, a bus crash in Malaysia today claimed at least 15 lives, the majority of whom were university students. Malaysian authorities have described this as one of the deadliest bus accidents in Malaysia in the last decade.

The Malaysia bus crash today happened on the East-West Highway close to the Thai border, a notorious accident-prone stretch of highway, when a university bus crashed into a minivan at about 1:00 AM local time.

The bus, according to Perak State Police Chief Hisam Nordin, seemed to have lost control and struck the minivan from the rear, causing both buses to swerve off the highway.

Fourteen of the deceased in the Gerik bus accident today were students from Sultan Idris Education University, along with the bus’s sole attendant. Thirteen victims died at the scene, while two more succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

An additional 33 passengers were injured, including seven critically, with ages ranging from 21 to 23.

Photos taken by the fire and rescue department revealed the green university bus on its side, crushed at the rear, while the red minivan was devastated in a roadside ditch.

“Some victims were ejected, some managed to escape themselves, and others were trapped,” said the Perak state disaster management authority.

Witnesses of the crash described the scenes as a shocking mess, with screams ringing out in the ruins of the bus. “They were trapped between the wreckage,” Razali, an eyewitness, remembered.

The Malaysian government is yet to make a formal ruling on the cause of the Gerik bus accident and is investigating whether the cause was mechanical failure or human action.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his deepest condolences to the victims’ families, describing the accident as “heartbreaking” and urging drivers to drive carefully.

“The Gerik bus accident is a reminder that life is far too valuable to be lost in hurrying,” he posted on Facebook.

The Higher Education Ministry has been asked to assist the victims’ families as the nation mourns the loss of the lives of the youngsters in this tragic accident.