853 villagers stranded after bridge at Orang Asli settlement in Cameron Highlands collapses

The bridge connecting Pos Terisu orang asli village and Kuala Terla collapsed after a downpour at Cameron Highlands on Sunday between 2.30am and 3am.

IPOH: A total of 853 villagers were stranded after a 12.2m-long bridge in the Orang Asli settlement at Pos Terisu in Cameron Highlands collapsed on Sunday morning.

Cameron Highlands Police chief DSP Zainalabidin Othman said the bridge, which is the main pathway to the settlement at Batu 49, Kuala Terla, collapsed due to the rise in river water levels following a heavy downpour between 2am and 3am.

"It is believed that the bridge collapsed at the point where the currents from two rivers, namely the Tringkap and Kuala Terla rivers, met and entered the main Ulu Telom river, where the bridge was located," he said in a statement here.

Three cars and three motorcycles, belonging to villagers residing near the river, were also washed away by the overflowed river waters in Jalan Kolam Air, Brinchang.

However, he said the vehicles were retrieved as most of them were stuck in between houses of villagers.

Police will continue monitoring the situation in the area, he added. – Bernama