BALIK PULAU (Malaysia) — A Singaporean tourist was killed while 10 others were injured after the van they were travelling in skidded and fell into a 6m deep ravine while descending a slope in Jalan Teluk Kumbar-Bukit Genting, Penang, on Sunday (Sept 24) night.

There were 11 people altogether in the 12-seater van — 10 were Singaporean tourists while the van driver was a local man.

Malaysia’s southwest police chief Superintendent Kamarul Rizal Jenal said that the deceased has been identified as 62-year-old Lee Kwee Yiam.

Mr Kamarul added that the victim died of serious head injuries.

Operations officer N Prenavaran, from the Air Putih Fire and Rescue Station, said they received an emergency call about an accident on the hill at about 8.20pm local time and arrived 10 minutes later.

Upon arrival, they had difficulty reaching the hill with the fire engines and had to hike up the hill with stretchers and rescue equipment, which took them 15 minutes.

“When we arrived, we found the van with 11 people in it had fallen off the ravine.

“We (directed) our rescuers and hiked downhill to rescue the trapped victims one by one. Safety was of paramount importance due to the steep and slippery slope and it was very dark then.

“When we arrived, three of the victims had been taken uphill with the help of the public,” he told newsmen at the scene.

Mr Prenavaran said that seven women and three men were rescued.

“One, a woman, had died when we reached her,” he said.

“Seven of them were taken to the Balik Pulau Hospital while (the other) three to the Penang Hospital.

“The last to be rescued was a woman, who was trapped. We had to cut the dashboard and steering wheel to reach her. She was alive,” he added.

Mr Prenavaran said the remains of the deceased woman would be handed to the Malaysian police for the next course of action. NEW STRAITS TIMES