15 dead after bus ferrying M’sian uni students collides with MPV

An accident in Perak, Malaysia near the Thailand border involving a bus ferryyng students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) and a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in the early hours of Jun. 9, 2025, left at least 15 dead and 31 others injured.

Bus overturned

Investigations found that the bus was travelling along the East-West Highway from Jerteh, Terengganu to UPSI's main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, when it collided with a seven-seater MPV that was traveling in the same direction, Malaysia media reported.

The bus overturned, while the car swerved into a ditch.

A total of 48 people were involved in the crash: 42 students, a bus driver, a bus attendant and four occupants from the MPV were involved in the crash.

Students returning from Hari Raya Haji celebrations

A university representative confirmed that most of the bus' passengers were students returning from Hari Raya Haji celebrations over the weekend.

They had hired a private bus to return to the main campus together.

The Perak Fire and Rescue Department was alerted to the accident at around 1:04am, and found the UPSI bus overturned and the MPV badly damaged.

Some victims were reportedly able to exit the bus on their own, while others were thrown out, and some remained trapped in the bus.

An access point in the rear of the bus was created by the rescue team using hydraulic cutting tools, through which six more victims, including two severely injured ones, were found and extracted, according to The Star.

13 dead at scene

A total of 13 victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while all injured victims were treated on the spot before being transported to the hospital.

"Among them were those with broken arms, broken legs and minor injuries", a statement by the Civil Defence Force said.

Two more victims later succumbed to their injuries and died in the hospital.

Malaysia prime minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in a Facebook post, stating that the Ministry of Higher Education will provide appropriate assistance to the families.

"Such heartbreaking tragedies, which happen all too often, should serve as a lesson to everyone to always be cautious and never rush in pursuit of a destination. Your lives are far too precious and irreplaceable", he wrote.

Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir extended his condolences to the victims' families, promising his ministry's full support and assistance to those involved in the crash.

Further information will be made available at a later time, he said.

Investigations into the accident are ongoing.

Top images by Perak Fire and Rescue Department