None of the 21 passengers injured when the Teluk Bahang ferry collided with tanker MV Mekar Jaya suffered serious injuries, with all victims reported to have sustained only minor wounds.
State Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi said 11 of those injured were taken by ambulance to Seberang Jaya Hospital (HSJ), while another 10 chose to make their own way there for treatment.
However, only seven of the 10 passengers who opted to travel independently eventually turned up at the hospital.
“A total of 18 patients received treatment at the HSJ Emergency Department, and all suffered minor injuries.
“None of the victims required admission to the ward following the incident,” he said when contacted today.
The collision occurred at about 8.40pm yesterday within Penang Port limits, involving the Teluk Bahang ferry and MV Mekar Jaya.
Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the tanker was travelling from Air Dalam Jetty in Butterworth towards Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal.
At the same time, the Teluk Bahang ferry was making its way towards the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal when the collision occurred.
State Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the state government had so far received only a preliminary report and was waiting for the full investigation to establish what caused the incident.
“As far as the state is concerned, we have only received a preliminary report so far, which is nothing new from what was reported, and we are waiting for the results of the investigation to determine the cause and other details,” he said.
Several videos of the collision have since circulated widely on social media, showing passengers with injuries and motorcycles that were knocked over inside the ferry following the impact.
Despite the incident, ferry services continued operating as normal and were not disrupted.
