Suspension bridge colllapses, 22 pupils feared drowned

2009/10/26

Mimi Syed Yusof

KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty two pupils, aged between 10 and 12 years old were believed to have been drowned after they were swept away by strong currents when they fell into the Kampar river in Perak last night.

They were among 298 other pupils who were part of a four-day motivational programme comprising 60 schools from the Kinta Selatan district.

The children were in the midst of crossing a 30m hanging bridge, to get across Sungai Kampar, when the bridge suddenly collapsed.

Thirty of the pupils were crossing the bridge when it gave way and 22 of them plunged into the river, while the rest managed to escape to safety.

A search and rescue team, with some 100 policemen, firemen and Rela volunteers are currently combing the area looking for the victims along the banks of Sungai Kampar.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who arrived at the scene late last night, said the 10.30pm incident occurred during an exercise after the pupils had their late supper.

Zambry said rescue efforts were continuing, but as of 1.30am there was no sign of any of the victims.

Zambry said the programme, which was being held at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang, has been cancelled and parents have been informed to fetch their children home.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from the search and rescue team said the children were camping at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang for the night while waiting for their parents.