Bus plunges into a deep ravine near a highland resort, killing 37 people

(21 Aug 2013) A passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine on Wednesday while travelling near a Malaysian highland resort, killing 37 people, police said. Sixteen people survived the accident, which occurred on a winding slope in central Genting Highlands, a popular destination that houses Malaysia's sole casino, said the district police chief. The bus, which fell about 60 metres (200 feet) into the ravine, was carrying mostly Malaysians, he said. He did not have nationality details for the fatalities, but those who survived included Malaysians and others from Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand. TV footage showed some of the bodies being taken to the forensic rooms of the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital. More than 400 firefighters, police and medical officers used ropes and cranes to reach the bus, which had been heading to the capital, Kuala Lumpur. The cause of the accident was not known. The bus driver was among those killed, the district police chief said. Genting Highlands attracts thousands of domestic visitors and foreign tourists every week. Serious accidents are rare on the relatively well-maintained roads leading to the area's main resorts. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...