Singapore PRs among 14 involved in Taiwan bus accident

SINGAPORE: A bus carrying 14 tourists from Singapore and Malaysia crashed along the scenic Alishan Highway in Chiayi County, Taiwan on Monday morning.

Three passengers, who are from Malaysia, are believed to be seriously injured.

A couple — Singapore permanent residents — and their two children "are doing fine", according to the Singapore travel agency in—charge LAI Travel.

Its manager Pamela Peng said: "I was in touch with them earlier (and) they are doing well. The adults are not hurt (although) the children may have had a scare.

"We’ve arranged their accommodation for tonight. They’ll return to Taipei tomorrow."

The group were on their fifth day of their eight—day tour in Taiwan and were on their way to Taichung after coming down from Alishan, a popular tourist destination.

In addition to the 14 tourists, there was also a tour guide and a driver on board.

According to the bus driver, who suffered minor injuries, the brake had failed to work while he was trying to avoid another car moving along the Alishan Highway.

He immediately pulled on the handbrake which slowed down the vehicle and kept it from falling over the cliff.

However, the bus ended up on its side after it hit a barrier at the side of the highway.

Rescuers had to enter the bus from a small hole on its roof, and work to save a passenger from inside the bus.

The crash came after a more serious one in Hsinchu County on Sunday that killed 13 people and injured 10 others.

These back—to—back accidents raised speculation that the malfunction of the two buses could be a result of high usage from heavy influx of Chinese visitors in recent years.

Taiwan has already reported 51 tour bus accidents in the past two years, killing 23 and injuring more than 400.

The transport ministry has pledged to look into the matter to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

— CNA/lp