Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal bridge collapse



The Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal bridge collapse was a disaster of the Penang Ferry Service which occurred on July 31, 1988, at the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. The collapse caused the deaths of 32 people and injured 1,634 people. It was blamed on overcrowding and the jetty being made out of steel bars that led to the collapse.

The right passageway of the terminal bridge is still used by both pedestrians and cars. Many car and other vehicle users moved to the Penang Bridge, which is farther from George Town but more efficient for drivers.

Two simultaneous festivities

he cause was extreme crowding at the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal of about 10,000 people. There were two simultaneous festivities involving the Chinese ethnic group, namely the Kwan Yin Goddess festival in George Town and the St Anne Church anniversary in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. The decorated float procession was held at the Esplanade and at Padang Kota Baru [field between Dato Keramat Road and Anson Road] as well as passing through main streets of Georgetown. Statues of this goddess were paraded along streets decorated with colourful lights in the middle of the city on Sunday 31 July 1988 night. There was a call for Buddhist devotees from the Chinese ethnic group to attend the event because it was held only once every 60 years according to the Chinese calendar (a once-in-a-lifetime occasion) and this festivity was believed to bring prosperity because Kwan Yin means 'Goddess of Generosity'. Tourists from Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan also came at that time.

St Anne Church in Bukit Mertajam was also holding a large festival for its anniversary. Many Christian ethnic Chinese worshipped at this church on Sunday morning and proceeded to Penang in the afternoon to visit and observe the Buddhist ceremony.

Packed bridge

The Penang Bridge which opened in 1985 did not accommodate public transport. Many people chose to go to the island to enjoy the scenic Butterworth Strait and sunset, and continue to the Esplanade on foot.

Packed jetty

The Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal had two levels. The lower level was for cars and other small vehicles to roll-on/roll-off. The upper level was for passengers from and to the Butterworth bus station. The terminal, built in 1956 could not withstand the 'assault' of 10,000 passengers. Its columns were made of reinforced concrete and floor of thick boards. The floor beams, fencing and walls, made of dense steel, covered the passageway for vehicles beneath. At 4:40 p.m., the beams buckled and snapped. The floor boards consequently collapsed. The steel walls and roof caved in. The passengers above slid and were crushed by columns and platform boards. Vehicles beneath were smashed.


Karak Highway landslide
30.06.1995 (Friday) KM 34 Jalan Susur Genting Highland

A landslide at Km 34 feeder road to Genting Highlands, Pahang on June 30th. 1995, where 20 people were killed and 22 sustained injuries.

20 tourists were killed and 22 injured when a massive landslide during heavy rains buried vehicles travelling on a different road leading to the resort.
The 5.30pm landslide, said to be the worst in the country's history, was caused by heavy rain since 3pm which caused tons of earth to slip.

Scores of rescue workers managed to dig their way in against uprooted trees
and boulders and reach out to the trapped survivors. The bodies of
several victims were found washed down a ravine about 100m below
what used to be the main road to Genting Highlands. It is believed
the victims dashed out of their cars but were buried as they ran.

Karak Highway accident
A tourist bus plunged into a gorge of 120 meters deep at Km 1.5 Genting Highlands Road , Pahang on July 15th. 1996 , where 17 people were killed.


15.07.1996 (Monday) KM 1.5 Jalan Genting Highland


Highland Towers collapse


This post has been edited by ((Xa))0102: Aug 22 2014, 04:12 PM

and your point is?

you sound like

"i dont want to make this as a competition but i'm just going to do so anyway fark yeah"

pls stop.

its a sad day. someone of you bising say malaysian hypocrites only pray to mainstream tragedy like this. here we have someone posting about past tragedies you all go all lubang buntut.
wtf man

i dunno why when some national mourn being done there must be one or two little voice need to be nitpick

reminds me of taliban who said, "berkabung berkabung jugak...solat jumaat jangan tinggal..."

al fatihah