This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8327193.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Malaysian children feared drowned Malaysian bridge fall kills one
(20 minutes later)
Reports from Kuala Lumpur say that at least 22 Malaysian schoolchildren are feared drowned after a bridge on which they were crossing a river collapsed. A suspension bridge in Perak state in northern Malaysia has collapsed, killing at least one child.
The incident occurred in Perak state in the north of the country. Another 19 fell into the river but were rescued; two more are missing and a search by rescue services continues.
The children were reported missing on Monday. Police, firefighters and emergency services are scouring the river in search of victims. A further 20 who were on the bridge managed to avoid falling into the water by clinging onto the structure.
The Malaysian national news agency Bernama said that the children were under 13, and were on a camping trip. The state news agency Bernama reported that the 50-metre bridge had only been completed two weeks ago, replacing another bridge which had collapsed.
Another 20 people who were on the suspension bridge managed to avoid falling into the water by clinging onto the structure. The chief Minister of Perak state Zambry Abdul Kadir said the bridge's support beams had fallen late on Monday evening and authorities were investigating whether it had been built to proper specifications.
One student, K Mathivanan, aged 12, told Bernama that the bridge suddenly collapsed after some children jumped on it. One student, K Mathivanan, aged 12, told Bernama that the bridge at Kuala Dipang, Kampar, suddenly collapsed after some children jumped on it.
"Suddenly we were thrown into the river, but I managed to hold on to a rope," the pupil said."Suddenly we were thrown into the river, but I managed to hold on to a rope," the pupil said.
"The currents were strong but I pulled my body up.""The currents were strong but I pulled my body up."
The children were part of a group of nearly 300 from 60 primary schools in Kampar, Tronoh and Batu Gajah in Penak state, who were camping in a village 200km (120 miles) north of the capital, Kuala Lumpur.