KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysian students died in a traffic accident in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand today.
Wisma Putra, in a statement today, said three other Malaysian students involved in the same accident have been airlifted to the Christchurch Hospital, South Islands for medical treatment.
"The Malaysian High Commission in Wellington, with the assistance of the Malaysian community in Christchurch, is providing necessary consular assistance to the victims and their families to ensure the welfare management of all victims proceeds smoothly.
"Wisma Putra and the Malaysian High Commission stand ready to assist should the families decide to repatriate the deceased to Malaysia," it said.
The ministry also expressed its condolences to the families of the victims affected by the incident.
Meanwhile, New Zealand police, in a statement, said that three people died in a multi-vehicle crash on State Highway 8 near Lake Pukaki.
It said five more were hospitalised after a crash between two vehicles and a motorcycle on State Highway 8 near Lake Pukaki.
The statement, quoting police district operations and support manager Inspector Craig McKay, said the crash was one of two on the same stretch of road within less than two hours, with about 20 or more people involved across the two separate incidents.
Both crashes involved three vehicles each and have left emergency services and members of the public alike reeling.
The earlier crash happened between Hayman Road and Tekapo Canal Road about 1.30pm.
"Despite the best efforts of those first at the scene, three people were unable to be saved.
"Several of the injured were trapped in the wreckage and needed to be cut out. Three of the injured have been flown to hospital.
"One of the deceased was a motorcyclist while the two others who lost their lives were travelling together in one of the cars.
"We are in the early stages of the investigation to determine what caused this tragic event," read the statement.