By SELANGOR, MALAYSIA — As of 5.30 pm today (16 December) , Batang Kali landslide death toll rises to 19, as the search and rescue (SAR) mission will continue until the remaining 14 victims are found.
According to Astro Awani, Datuk Norazam Khamis, Director of Selangor Fire and Rescue Department, confirmed that the rescue team will continue the SAR mission for 24 hours, depending on the weather and situation on the ground.
“SAR will be stopped immediately if it rains, but at the moment, we will continue the mission and our rescue personnel working on rotation until the remaining 14 victims are found.”
He said 700 personnel from various agencies were ready to continue the SAR mission at night as all equipment and lighting had been prepared.
Mother and child locked in an embrace found under the soil
Earlier at 4.40 pm today, two bodies locked in an embrace, believed to be a mother and her child been found buried under the soil.
They were the 17th and 18th victims, with another body also recovered at 5.15 pm.
Among 19 killed in the landslide tragedy, four of them were children from the campsite.
61 people so far have been found safe after the predawn landslide near the town of Batang Kali, just outside the capital of Kuala Lumpur and near a mountain casino resort.
Nga Kor Ming, the local government development minister had earlier revealed that the “campsite is operating without a licence”, and that the operators would be punished if found guilty by the court.
According to Bernama, Malaysia’s King and Queen expressed their condolences to all the families of the victims who perished in the landslide.
The fire department received an emergency call at 2.24 am today regarding a landslide at Father Organic Farm campsite at Batang Kali.
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.