KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Malaysian police on Thursday said they had found the bodies of two schoolchildren who were part of a large group that fell into a fast-flowing river when a bridge collapsed three days ago.

'One body was discovered late last night. It was of an 11-year-old girl. Early today (Thursday) we found the body of a 12-year-old girl,' said Aziz Salleh, the police chief of Kampar district in northern Perak state.

One body was found on Tuesday, a day after the narrow suspension bridge collapsed. Another 19 students who fell into the river were rescued.

They were among 298 children taking part in a new government-backed camping programme aimed at fostering national unity.

Aziz said the two bodies had been sent to the hospital for post-mortem examinations.

'The bodies have been handed over to the families. We have completed our task and the search is over,' he said.

The camp was part of the government's 'One Malaysia' scheme, which is geared towards fostering integration among the multicultural nation's ethnic groups, through activities like traditional cooking, cultural education and games.

Deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin Tuesday visited the site and spoke with distressed parents, promising the government would probe the cause of the collapse of the newly installed bridge.