PETALING JAYA, Aug 21 — Thirty-seven people died in a horrific bus crash near mountain resort Genting Highlands today, in what is arguably the worst road accident involving an express bus in recent years.

Citing Fire and Rescue Department deputy director-general Datuk Soiman Jahid, The Star Online reported that the dead were among 53 passengers who were on board the bus when it plunged 70 metres down a ravine at around 3pm.

Rescuers have so far pulled out 16 people and one body from the wreckage. — Picture by Siow Feng Saw

Soiman confirmed that 41 of the passengers, including survivors, had been pulled out of the wreckage as at 8.50pm.

The dead comprised 24 men and 13 women.

Two rescue personnels using a crane to get down into the ravine in order to bring the victims up. — Picture by Siow Feng Saw

Authorities noted that over half of the passengers were foreigners from China, Bangladesh and Thailand and that the bus had exceeded its maximum capacity of 44 passengers.

It is understood that the bus driver, who was among the fatalities, had lost control of the vehicle while going downhill en route to Kuala Lumpur, ramming into a divider before the fatal plunge some 2km from the Chin Swee Caves Temple.

The daily also reported that traffic had been backed up on the narrow mountain road to make way for rescue personnel working to reach the scene of the crash.

Genting Highlands tragedy location map. — Graphic by The Malay Mail Online

Bernama reported that Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Service Department rescuers used a crane to get down into the ravine and bring up the victims.

Rescue operations were called off at 10pm.

Road fatalities involving express buses have been a recurrent issue in Malaysia.

Today’s crash may be the most deadly in recent years.

Rescuers work at the scene of a bus crash at Genting Highlands, 55 km (34 miles) from Kuala Lumpur, August 21, 2013. — Reuters pic

The previous record for the highest fatalities was on December 20, 2010 when another express bus, on its way down from Cameron Highlands, hit a divider and overturned, killing 27 people onboard, including the driver.

A year before that, 10 people died on December 26, when the northbound bus they were in crashed into the guardrail at the Ipoh toll plaza.

Another 10 died on December 7, 2008 when their express bus skidded and overturned in Pagoh, Johor.

Another incident with high fatalities happened on August 13, 2007 when 22 people, including the driver, died when the express bus they were travelling in crashed near the Bukit Gantang, Perak rest area on the North-South Expressway.

More recently, a teacher and three students were killed on November 11, 2011 when their chartered bus collided with a tanker while they were on their way up Genting Highlands from Kulim, Kedah.