[EXCLUSIVE] Batang Kali rescuers toil through night to find 25th fatality
The Vibes’ photographer shadows team on yesterday’s search
Updated 1 year ago · Published on 21 Dec 2022 5:23PM
Search-and-rescue personnel lift the body of the 25th fatality of the Batang Kali landslide yesterday. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022
by Sairien Nafis
KUALA LUMPUR – One can only imagine how challenging it is to be part of the Batang Kali search-and-rescue team.
I had a taste of being in their shoes from 6pm to 12am yesterday to help photograph some of the team members who were on duty.
After a while, I had to catch my breath, as it was tiring to even take a few steps in the waterlogged soil and muddy conditions while having to juggle heavy camera equipment.
One of the team members shared with me that personnel on the ground have their food delivered to them so they can continue their search mission uninterrupted in the red zones.
As the operation was winding down, the team announced that it found the body of a girl buried 16m in the mud.
It was distressing and heartbreaking for me to watch as they lifted the small body out of the debris, before placing her in a body bag and carrying her out of the search area. – The Vibes, December 21, 2022
Rescuers make their way through waterlogged soil and muddy conditions yesterday as they head for the scene of the Batang Kali landslide. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022Rescuers with excavators at work late at night yesterday in their search for victims of the Batang Kali landslide. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022A rescuer carries food for his fellow search-and-rescue team personnel. The team has had its meals delivered to allow them to search for the remaining victims of the Batang Kali landslide. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022A high-powered searchlight is set up last night to aid in the search for the remaining victims of the Batang Kali landslide. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022Rescuers operate an excavator in search of victims on the fifth day of the Batang Kali landslide search-and-rescue operations. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022Rescuers find a small luggage bag last night on the fifth day of the search at Batang Kali. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022Rescuers taking a breather after toiling through mud and soil in their search for the Batang Kali landslide victims. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022Batang Kali landslide rescuers attempt to carry the body of the tragedy’s 25th victim out of the mud yesterday. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022Batang Kali landslide rescuers place the body of the tragedy’s 25th victim in a body bag. The body of the young girl was found buried 16m in the mud. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022In muddy conditions and on unstable ground, Batang Kali landslide rescuers attempt to place the 25th victim’s body on a stretcher. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022Batang Kali landslide rescuers lift the 25th victim’s body away on a stretcher after digging through a 16m-deep muddy terrain. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022Rescuers in Batang Kali break for dinner yesterday. The Vibes’ photographer Sairien Nafis shadowed the team from 6pm to 12am last night. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022Rescuers in Batang Kali gather around a fire for warmth on the fifth day of the search, last night. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022The emergency key for the main gate at the scene of the Batang Kali landslide. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022A rescuer takes some much-needed rest to recuperate after five exhausting days of search-and-rescue operations. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, December 21, 2022
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