SELANGOR, MALAYSIA — This early morning (16 Dec), a landslide occurred at Father Organic Farm campsite, located in Batang Kali district near Genting Highland, just 1 hour’s driving distance from Malaysia’s capital.
According to a Twitter post by Malaysia National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), as of 9.15 am this morning, a total of 92 victims have been found.
Fifty-three victims had escaped the landslide unharmed, while seven were injured.
However, eight have been confirmed dead in the tragedy.
According to Astro Awani, police had earlier confirmed that a woman and a boy died in the tragedy.
16 Dis 2022 – KEJADIAN TANAH RUNTUH DI FATHER ORGANIC FARM, BATANG KALI, SELANGOR.
Setakat jam 9.15 pagi, seramai 92 mangsa telah ditemui. Hasil siasatan mendapati 53 mangsa yang ditemui selamat, 7 cedera dan 8 mangsa meninggal dunia. Sehingga kini operasi SAR masih diteruskan. pic.twitter.com/yhV9oGCmLg
— NADMA Malaysia (@mynadma) December 16, 2022
Another tweet by NADMA revealed that Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team(SMART) was deployed to the landslide location. The search and rescue mission is still ongoing.
Pasukan SMART telah diaturgersk ke kejadian tanah runtuh di Father’s Organic Farm, Jalan Genting Highland-Batang Kali Selangor. #pekaamaran#kesiapsiagaanbencanatanggungjawabbersama pic.twitter.com/mcYTFQ78MH
— NADMA Malaysia (@mynadma) December 16, 2022
PM Anwar ordered all departments to carry out the rescue mission meticulously and systematically
Posting on his Facebook page on Friday morning, Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed his shock by the landslide tragedy this morning.
He had received information about the incident from the Selangor Chief Minister, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, and the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change
“I have ordered that search and rescue missions are carried out meticulously and systematically by all government departments, ” stressed Anwar.
He also ordered the relevant ministers to go down the field this morning, “However, I advise them not to interfere with search and rescue operations.”
He hopes Malaysians can pray together and wish the SAR mission can be easier for the rescue team on the ground.
Anwar added that he will personally visit the site tonight.
