BENTONG: It took firemen more than eight hours to bring out the bodies of two people who were killed after their trailer plunged into a 20m-deep ravine at Km42 of the East Coast Expressway yesterday.
Both the lorry driver and his assistant who have yet to be identified died at the scene after the lorry laden with metal structures landed into the ravine last night.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department operations and rescue division assistant director Salahuddin Isa said the Bentong fire station was alerted about the accident at 8.16pm before nine firemen were deployed to the scene.
"The first body was brought out about 7.47am today followed by the second at 9.30am. The lorry driver and his assistant were trapped inside the mangled vehicle.
"The fire and rescue department mobilised its K9 dog detection unit at 1.20am to help find the victims. Firemen utilised rescue tools to cut the metal structures to bring out the victims," he said in a statement today.
Salahuddin said the remains were handed to the police and the operation ended at 10.05am.
It is learnt that the dark surroundings which were covered by jungle, hilly and slippery slopes and the metal pieces that fell from the lorry had caused some setbacks during the operation.
Meanwhile, Bentong police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar confirmed the accident, saying police will issue a statement on the incident.