BATANG KALI – Efforts to find nine more landslide victims at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite, near here have been stepped up further with the arrival of two armed forces’ excavators, which were specially brought to the site today.
The two PC 210 LC-1OM excavators of the Royal Army Engineers Regiment (RAJD) from Batu Cantonment Camp in Kuala Lumpur, which arrived at about 2 pm, caught the attention of the media and other personnel at the site.
It was learned the two heavy machines had just been received by the RAJD on May 31 under the 2021 Rolling Plan 3 Acquisition.
The addition of the two excavators makes the number used in the search-and-rescue operations to 10.
Previously, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Norazam Khamis said eight excavators were assigned to Sectors A and C for dredging and earth-moving work, but the dredging process was carried out in stages to prevent the machinery from hitting victims.
Yesterday the rescue team also obtained a ground-penetrating radar from the Survey and Mapping Department and the National Disaster Management Agency to help detect bodies buried under the ground.
On top of that, 11 sniffer dogs were put on standby at the scene to assist the operation, with six belonging to the Fire Department, four to police, and one belonging to the armed forces.
The search operation to find the nine victims still missing from last Friday’s tragedy entered its fourth day today.
A total of 24 victims have been confirmed dead so far while 61 out of a total of 94 victims survived. – Bernama, December 19, 2022
