Ferry rocked after colliding with ship, passengers say

Passengers said the Teluk Bahang ferry rocked violently after colliding with the MV Mekar Jaya near Penang Port.

A passenger identified only as Zaidi said the ferry was about five minutes from the Sultan Abdul Halim terminal in Butterworth when a dark-colored cargo ship crossed in front of it. He then heard a powerful metallic crash from the front of the ferry.

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We may have been only about five minutes from the terminal. Suddenly I saw a dark-colored cargo ship crossing in front of the ferry, then heard a very loud metallic crash from the front.

The impact sent the vessel rocking from side to side before it spun around. Motorcycles carried inside the ferry fell over, causing several passengers and riders to fall. Zaidi said some people suffered injuries to their heads, hands and legs, while others helped those who had fallen.

Preliminary information said 21 passengers were injured in the collision, which occurred at about 8:40 p.m. The MV Mekar Jaya had been traveling from the Air Dalam Butterworth jetty to Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal, while the Teluk Bahang ferry was heading toward the Sultan Abdul Halim terminal. Ambulances took the injured to hospital after the ferry arrived, and other passengers dispersed once conditions at the terminal returned to normal.

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The ferry rocked from side to side before spinning around.