SIBU, Aug 31 — Twenty-three people were injured after a tour bus was involved in a single-vehicle accident at the Kanowit roundabout along the Pan Borneo Highway here early Monday.

A statement from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) operations centre said it received a distress call at 2.25am and deployed six firefighters from the Sibu Jaya fire station to the scene.

“A total of 43 people were in the bus when the accident occurred. Twenty-three of them sustained injuries, of whom 19 were women and four were men.

“No victims were trapped in the bus.

“Firefighters assisted one female victim who was still inside the bus to a safe location, while the other 42 victims had been assisted out by members of the public before the arrival of the firefighters,” the statement said.

It said the injured victims received initial treatment from medical personnel before being taken to Sibu Hospital and Kanowit Hospital for further treatment.

The operation ended at 4.50am after firefighters ensured the scene was safe and no further action was required.

The operation also involved the police, Health Ministry and Civil Defence Force. — The Borneo Post