UPDATE: As of 9.15am this morning (16 December), the death toll has been updated to eight by Malaysia National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). Fifty-three victims had escaped the landslide unharmed, while seven were injured.
GENTING HIGHLAND, MALAYSIA — An unexpected landslide trapped around 79 victims at a campsite in Batang Kali in the early morning today(16 Dec), with two people confirmed dead in the incident.
According to Selangor State Fire and Rescue Department’s recent Facebook Post, the department received an emergency call at 2.24 am today regarding a landslide at Father Organic Farm campsite at Batang Kali.
“Fire and rescue team from Kuala Kubu Bharu, Rawang and Genting Highlands immediately dispatched to the location and arrived at 3.04 am.”
The statement said the landslide happened on the roadside close to the Father Organic Farm and fell into a campsite that was close to the road.
“The landslide fell from an estimated height of 30 meters above the campsite and covered an area of about 3 acres.”
As of 7 am this morning, it was identified that a total of 79 victims was involved in this tragedy, rescue personnel managed to help 23 victims escape unharmed, while three were injured.
Unfortunately, two victims died in the incident.
The rescue team is still searching for 51 missing victims.
Other relevant agencies, including Voluntary Fire Association, Private Fire Department, Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM), Health Ministry and the SMART team, also joined forces in the search and rescue mission.
More updates will be provided in this developing story