The incident at about 7am involved 10 pupils from SJK(T) Jalan Yahya Awal and six secondary school students – three each from SMK Aminuddin Baki and SMK Mohd Khalid.

Johor education and information committee chairman Aznan Tamin, who visited the students at Sultanah Aminah Hospital, said some of the students sustained broken bones, including fractured hands and fingers.

He said the state government was monitoring the situation and had assured their families that they would receive the best possible treatment and care.

“I’ve spoken to both the hospital and the schools to ensure that the victims are given full medical attention and support.

“The education department will also carry out counselling programmes to help the students cope with the trauma,” Harian Metro reported him as saying.

Aznan said an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway, with early findings suggesting the van may have hit an open underground cable hole, causing it to overturn.

He said he would raise the issue with works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Fazli Salleh.