- Title: MALAYSIA: Thailand arrange special aircraft to fly bus crash bodies home
- Date: 22nd December 2010
- Summary: SIMPANG PULAI, PERAK, MALAYSIA (CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL) (DECEMBER 20, 2010) (REUTERS) TYRES AND WRECKAGE OF THE BUS VARIOUS BUS WRECKAGE REPORTERS AND POLICE ON SCENE PASSENGERS' LUGGAGE RESCUE PERSONNEL CARRYING AN INJURED PASSENGER RESCUE PERSONNEL LIFTING INJURED PASSENGER INTO AMBULANCE RESCUE PERSONNEL PUT REMAINS IN TRUCK BODIES IN PLASTIC BAGS
- Embargoed: 6th January 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Malaysia, Malaysia
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVASZIIX1ZVBCWSMG0ZQPUKPQIM
- Story Text: Thailand's ambassador in Malaysia Thana Dangrana said on Tuesday (December 21) that the government in Bangkok will deploy a special aircraft to bring back the remains of 25 Thai nationals who were among the 27 people killed in a bus crash.
The double-decker vehicle crushed a road divider on Monday (December 20) before skidding and overturning in the opposite direction as it descended from the popular hill resort of Cameron Highlands.
The bus was carrying 37 Thai tourists on route to the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur.
Two passengers were reportedly in a critical condition. Eight others who suffered minor injuries were treated at Ipoh General Hospital.
Thailand's ambassador in Malaysia, Thana Duangrana, visited the injured and said the Thai airforce is expected to send relatives of the dead to Malaysia to recover their bodies.
"When everything is finish and ready we are going to inform Bangkok and then send the air plane, as soon as possible," he said.
The plane is scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (December 22) morning, before flying back with both the remains and the injured passengers later in the day.
On Tuesday (December 21), parts of the wrecked bus were being investigated by forensic experts.
Deputy Police Chief Northern Malaysia, Zakaria Yusof, praised the rescue efforts at a news conference.
"We arrived quite early, so does fire brigade and police, which was about ten minutes after the accident happened as we received phone call from public. You (The reporters) also reached there quite early. You could see that the road was dry yesterday, we didn't see any stain of oil leaks. There was no spill of oil yesterday," he said.
Malaysia has the highest rate of road traffic fatalities in Southeast Asia, with 23.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2009 according to a World Health Organisation study. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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