Twenty-three people were injured after a tour bus carrying 43 passengers skidded off the road at Bulatan Kanowit, Sibu Jaya, early this morning.
A spokesperson for the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre said an emergency call regarding the incident was received at around 2.25am.
A team of six firefighters from the Sibu Jaya Fire and Rescue Station, accompanied by a Fire Rescue Tender (FRT), was immediately dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters arrived at around 2.48am and found that none of the passengers had been trapped inside the bus.
The spokesperson said the bus was carrying a total of 43 passengers when the accident occurred, with 23 later confirmed to have suffered injuries.
The injured passengers comprised 19 women and four men.
Firefighters assisted one female passenger who was still inside the bus to reach a safe location, while the remaining 42 passengers had already been helped out by members of the public before the rescue team arrived.
All injured passengers received initial medical treatment from medical personnel at the scene before being transported to Sibu Hospital and Kanowit Hospital for further treatment.
The rescue operation involved cooperation from several agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM).
The situation at the scene was declared under control at around 3am. The operation was officially concluded at 4.50am after firefighters confirmed that the area was completely safe.
