The cause was extreme crowding at the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal of about 10,000 people.

Statues of this goddess were paraded along streets decorated with colourful lights in the middle of the city on Sunday 31 July 1988 night.

There was a call for Buddhist devotees from the Chinese ethnic group to attend the event because it was held only once every 60 years according to the Chinese calendar (a once-in-a-lifetime occasion) and this festivity was believed to bring prosperity because Kwan Yin means 'Goddess of Generosity'.

Many Christian ethnic Chinese worshipped at this church on Sunday morning and proceeded to Penang in the afternoon to visit and observe the Buddhist ceremony.

Many people chose to go to the island to enjoy the scenic Malacca Strait and sunset, and continue to the Esplanade on foot.

The floor beams, fencing and walls, made of dense steel, covered the passageway for vehicles beneath.

On 11 April 2015, TV3 (Malaysia)'s documentary programme "Detik Tragik" (Tragic Moments) produced an episode about the ferry terminal bridge collapse.