GUA MUSANG – A search-and-rescue (SAR) operation for a Bangladeshi farm worker who was reported missing and feared buried in a landslide at Km 92 Jalan Gua Musang-Lojing here on Sunday is ongoing.
Gua Musang district police chief Supt Sik Choon Foo said despite using excavators to dig out the mud-filled area, the SAR operation has yet to find the victim.
"The search operation was split into four groups covering an area of 4km around the nearby river and vegetable farm.
“A total of 35 personnel from the police, Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Force have been involved in the operation for the past four days,” he told reporters after inspecting the SAR operation for the missing victim at the scene in Lojing, near here, today.
In the 3.30pm incident on Sunday, the victim, Akhund Md Ziarul, 37, was reported missing and is feared buried alive in the landslide, which occurred at the vegetable farm.
Following the landslide, dozens of boulders, wood and mud rained down on two lanes of the road for 2km, forcing it to be closed to all vehicles.
Sik said the SAR operation was also exposed to risks as there is some soil movement and mud is still flowing down the hill.
“The rescue team found a bag of clothes believed to belong to the victim, but the 1.8m-thick mud is hampering efforts to locate the victim.” – Bernama, January 7, 2021