Tragic van accident claims life of Singaporean tourist in Penang Malaysia

MALAYSIA: On Sunday evening (24 Sep), a devastating accident unfolded in Penang as a van, carrying Singaporean tourists, tragically veered off the road and plunged into a ravine at Bukit Genting around 08.14 pm.

This harrowing accident resulted in the loss of one tourist’s life, while ten others sustained various injuries.

The group had been descending a hill after enjoying a meal at the Bukit Genting Hill Leisure Park and Restaurant, a mere five minute drive from the restaurant, when the accident occurred.

According to a statement from the Fire and Rescue Department, the casualty included a Singaporean woman, with four passengers suffering severe injuries and six sustaining minor ones.

The van, carrying a total of 11 individuals, including the driver, skidded off the road, plummeting nearly 20 feet into the ravine.

When the fire and rescue department reached the scene, five passengers had already successfully extricated themselves from the vehicle.

Navigating the challenging terrain, firefighters promptly hiked to the accident site with stretchers and rescue equipment, a process that took 15 minutes.

Rescue operation for the accident victims (Photo: The Star)

Subsequently, they had to navigate a steep and treacherous slope to rescue those trapped.

A swift response from emergency services enabled the successful rescue of all the victims by 10.26 pm local time, after which they were promptly transported to hospitals in Penang and Balik Pulau.

Identification of the deceased Singaporean tourist

The Singaporean tourist who tragically lost her life in this incident has been identified as Lee Kwee Yiam (62), as confirmed by Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.

In a press conference held on Monday (25 Sep), Wong mentioned that the victim’s remains were currently at the Hospital Balik Pulau mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Additionally, Wong extended efforts to provide support and assistance to the victims by reaching out to the Singaporean High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, exploring potential avenues for assistance from the state government.