Thirty-two passengers were feared dead as rescuers worked to extricate those trapped in a bus which plunged into a 100-feet deep ravine as it made its way down from the Genting Highlands resort in Pahang.

As of 5.30pm, 17 passengers had been rescued and sent to hospitals in Selayang and Kuala Lumpur. One of those rescued later died.

Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department operations chief Azizan Ismail said the 17 had various injuries, some which were severe.

There were a total of 49 passengers aboard the bus which crashed at 2.46pm. The resort is 55km away from Kuala Lumpur.

The ravine, which is inaccessible by road, has forced rescue workers to use a crane to lift out passengers extricated from the bus. - August 21, 2013.