Balik Pulau fire and rescue official N. Prenavaran said rescuers had difficulty at the hilly location. Fire engines could not enter the site and firefighters were forced to climb the hill for 15 minutes with stretchers and emergency equipment.

“One woman was found to have died, seven were still trapped in the vehicle while three others were lifted to a safe place with the help of the public,” he said, Bernama reported.He said fire personnel had to use special equipment to cut the dashboard and steering wheel of the van to extricate a woman who was stuck next to the driver’s seat.

“The operation ended at about 10.45pm after the last victim was removed,” he said.

District police chief Kamarul Rizal Jenal said there were eight women and two Singaporean tourists while the van driver is a local man. The tourists are believed to be an elderly group on holiday in Penang.