Search for 12 at Malaysian camp enters 2nd day
>>KUALA LUMPUR: The search for the remaining 12 campers caught in Friday’s deadly landslide at an unlicensed campsite in Malaysia continued for a second day, but heavy rains overnight have complicated the operation, officials said.
At least 21 people, including five children, were killed after a landslide in Batang Kali, a popular hilly area about 50 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur, tore down while people slept in their tents.
There were 94 people caught in the landslide but 61 were safe, with 12 still missing, according to the fire and rescue department.
Search and rescue operations were suspended overnight due to heavy rains and resumed around 8.30am (0030 GMT) yesterday, with the assistance of excavators and seven canines, said Selangor state fire and rescue department chief Norazam Khamis.
“We have to be careful because there is strong water flow from the top and in the soil, this complicates search operations because the ground is soft,” he said.
Mr Norazam told reporters the chances of the 12 missing people being able to survive the lack of oxygen and weight of the soil are slim.
An initial investigation showed an embankment of about 450,000 cubic metres of earth had collapsed. The earth fell from an estimated height of 30 metres and covered an area of about an acre (0.4 hectares).
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters late Friday the government would provide 10,000 ringgit (78,400 baht) in aid to families of every person killed in the tragedy, while survivors would receive 1,000 ringgit per household. The Forestry Department in several states ordered the closure of campsites.