‘DEATH TOLL COULD BE HIGHER’
This is due to the discovery of a victim not listed in missing persons’ list
THE number of victims in the Bukit Kukus landslide is expected to increase following the discovery of a victim, whose name was not in the official missing persons’ list, yesterday.
Bangladesh national Mustak Hossain, 25, whose name was not in the official list, was found underneath the body of his village friend, Mithu Hossain, 30, outside their container house.
State Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Moktar said Mithu’s body was found at 12.13pm and Mustak’s at 12.18pm.
“They were found on top of one another outside their container, covered in 4m-deep earth. We believe that they could have tried to escape when they felt soil movement prior to the landslide.
“Following the discovery of Mustak, we believe that the number of victims may rise. This is because he is not in our initial list.
“Based on our list, we are still looking for four people. However, once all four are found, we will continue to search until we are convinced that there is no one left,” he said yesterday.
Saadon said the remains of Mithu and Mustak were identified by their friends who worked in the same construction site.
He said both victims had injuries.
“They were found 3m from where the two victims were found yesterday (Saturday).
“The search could be more difficult as we believe that the victims, if any, will be buried even deeper.”
He said the search-and-rescue (SAR) operation was more targeted in the areas where the K-9 units had shown particular interest.
Saadon said they had moved the containers and searched around the area to ensure there were no victims.
To date, the remains of seven victims in the landslide at the Bukit Kukus paired road project site in Paya Terubong have been recovered.
Two victims were discovered on Saturday and two on Friday, the day of the incident.
Three victims were pulled to safety.
Yesterday was the third day of the SAR operation.