Malaysian girl dead after bridge collapse

October 27, 2009 06:28:22 PM

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One Malaysian schoolgirl died and an unknown number of others were missing after the collapse of a bridge they were crossing during a camping trip, police said Tuesday.

The students were among 298 children who were on a camping trip in northern Perak state when the accident occurred on Monday evening, said Kampar district deputy police chief Zakaria Yusof.

"So far we have found the body of one female student and we do not know how many more are missing," he told AFP.

"There is speculation here that there are two still missing but we are still unsure as we do not have a list (of students attending the camp) from the education ministry."

The Star newspaper said that of the 22 students believed to be on the bridge when it collapsed, 19 had been found safe, but Zakaria said he could not confirm that report.

"We don't know how many children have been rescued as since last night parents have already been coming and taking their children," he said.

"However I can say that the number still missing is definitely very, very small," he added, referring to initial reports that all 22 who were on the bridge at the time were feared dead.

Perak's chief minister Zambry Abdul Kadir, who travelled to the scene late Monday, said the suspension bridge had just been installed.

"The hanging bridge was only just put in... and it's obvious that it collapsed because the metal girders gave way. We want to know if the bridge was built to specifications or not," he told the state Bernama news agency.