(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-11 14:25

KUALA LUMPUR - Seven people died and 28 others were injured when a tour bus crashed into the back of a tanker carrying chemicals near Ipoh, capital city of Malaysian northern Perak state, on Tuesday morning.

The driver and co-driver of the bus and four passengers died on the spot in the 5 am accident, and another victim died at the Ipoh Hospital, a police spokesman said.

All the victims had been taken to the Ipoh Hospital.

"The bus was on its way from Kubang Pasu (northern Kedah state) to Cameron Highlands (central Pahang state) when the accident occurred," the national news agency Bernama quoted the spokesman as saying.

The bus with 35 people on board was believed to have left Kubang Pasu at midnight, he said.

Preliminary investigation showed that the bus experienced brake failure while descending the slope, the spokesman said.