Kampar, July 22 - Four Vietnamese women were killed when a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) plunged into a ravine at KM301.9 of the North-South Expressway (north), near Gua Tempurung Thursday.

Kampar police chief Supt Abdul Aziz Salleh said four others in the MPV were seriously injured in the accident at 10.30am.

The accident involved six Vietnamese women, in their 20s, and two Malaysian men, who were travelling from the south.

"We have yet to identify the women killed and those seriously injured," he told reporters at the scene of the accident.

Firemen from Gopeng station took two hours to remove the victims from the 30m ravine and send the injured to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh.

Aziz said the Malaysians were identified as Tan Kok Soon,32, and Ong Wong Hui,31, from Johor.

Initial investigation found that the MPV (Toyota Alphard) was using a spare tyre as the rear right tyre had a puncture.

Tyre marks on the right side of the road indicated that the MPV had swerved to the left, crashed through a barricade before plunging into the ravine.

"We believe that the MPV was speeding before the accident. Spare tyres can't be used for long distance travel and only safe at a speed of 60km per hour," he added.

Police are investigating from all angles, including possibility that the Vietnamese women were involved with a human trafficking syndicate.

-- Bernama