12 Survive After Lorry Plunges Into Five-metre-deep Ravine

IPOH, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Twelve people survived when a bonded lorry belonging to the Forestry Department skidded and plunged into a five-metre-deep ravine at Batu 7, Jalan Tapah-Cameron Highlands, near Tapah, yesterday.

Acting Perak Fire and Rescue Operations deputy director Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah said they received a call regarding the incident at 2.52 pm, and a team from the Tapah Fire and Rescue Station took 53 minutes to reach the scene, located 13 kilometres (km) away.

He said that when the team arrived at the scene, they found that the 12 victims comprised mountain guides, Orang Asli and also staff from the Perak State Forestry Department.

"One of them was trapped in the lorry and was injured. The other 11 managed to escape on their own.

"One of them then headed to the main road to seek assistance. The trapped victim was later brought out on a stretcher, and all the victims were sent to the hospital,” he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Tapah police chief Supt Johari Yahya, in a separate statement, said preliminary investigations found that when the incident occurred, the lorry driver, in his 30s, and the 11 passengers were on their way home after putting up signboards around Gunung Batu Putih.

He said the vehicle was winding its way down the hilly road in rainy weather when it skidded on the narrow and slippery path.

"The lorry spun several times before plunging into the five-metre-deep ravine,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

As such, he advised the public to be more vigilant and plan their journey properly, especially during the monsoon season.

-- BERNAMA