BETONG — Tragedy struck on the Betong-Sarikei Pan Borneo Highway this evening when two women were killed and a man was seriously injured after the sports utility vehicle (SUV) they were travelling in skidded off the road near Rumah Panjang Melayu Ulu.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department’s (JBPM) Operations Centre (PGO) reported that the Betong Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) received an emergency call at 5.58 pm. A total of seven firefighters were immediately dispatched to the crash site.
“When the team arrived, they found an SUV that had skidded onto the road shoulder with three victims trapped inside. The male driver was stuck on the driver’s side while two women were pinned in the front and rear passenger seats,” said a JBPM spokesperson in a statement today.
Firefighters used special hydraulic equipment to extricate the victims. The rescue operation, which involved multiple agencies, was fully completed at 7.35 pm.
Medical personnel from the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed that two women, aged in their 20s and 40s, died at the scene due to severe injuries. The male driver, believed to be in his 40s, suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Betong Hospital for emergency treatment.
Authorities said the identities of the victims could not be immediately confirmed as no identification documents were recovered at the scene.
The operation was carried out with assistance from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), RELA, and the MOH medical team.
Police are expected to conduct further investigations into the cause of the accident, while the bodies of the deceased have been taken to Betong Hospital for post-mortem.
This latest incident adds to growing concerns over the rising number of fatal road accidents along the Pan Borneo Highway, with authorities reminding motorists to exercise caution, especially during evening travel.