KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA - Tragedy struck on the first day of Hari Raya when six people were killed after a mini-bus collided head-on with a four-wheel-drive vehicle in the east coast Kunak district.

Four people in the bus, including driver Darwis Dahlan, 37, and two passengers in the 4WD were killed on the spot in the 11.15am mishap at the 11th kilometer of the Kunak-Lahad Datu road.

The bus passengers who died in the accident were Amhia Albert, 15, Askar Ambu Kalang, 30, and three-year-old Najdmayan Al.

Ten other passengers sustained serious injuries in the worst traffic accident in Sabah during this festive season.

The two passengers in the four-wheel-drive vehicle who were killed were identified as Maslia Hassan, 45, and Nur Azlie Azlan, 15. The vehicle driver suffered injuries.

The injured were rushed to the Tawau General Hospital for treatment.

Sabah traffic chief Deputy Supt Hamzah Ahmad said the bus was attempting to overtake several cars at a bend but lost control of the vehicle.