Nineteen dead in Malaysia crash

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Nineteen people have been killed and seven seriously wounded after a bus travelling on Malaysia's main motorway overturned, state media has reported.

The crash occurred just before dawn after the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle in the northern Perak state, Bernama news agency said.

It was on the North-South Expressway, which runs from the Thai border to the Malaysian peninsula's southern tip.

It is reported to be one of the country's worst ever traffic accidents.

The bus, on its way from Johor Bahru to the northern town of Alor Star, was travelling downhill when it hit the curb and sped off the road before turning over, state media said.

Many passengers were flung through the exposed roof and others died when the sides of the bus were crushed on impact, police said.

The country has a modern network of fast highways, but speeding is common and many road users do not follow safety procedures.