Batang Kali landslide: search continues into day six

KUALA LUMPUR – The 25th victim was found yesterday some 16m deep at Sector C following some assistance from the Survey and Mapping Department.

Last night, rescuers had to grapple with wet and muddy conditions as well as a massive rock the size of an excavator that further complicated their search-and-rescue efforts.

According to Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Hafisham Mohd Noor, the remains were that of a young girl, aged between six and 10, found with three suitcases and a laptop.

The body was then sent to Sg Buloh Hospital for identification and post-mortem.

Meanwhile, the remains of another victim have been recovered at the landslide site in Batang Kali at 11.16am, leaving seven still missing. The death toll now stands at 26.

According to the Fire and Rescue Department, the search-and-rescue team found a body of an adult man in Sector B as operations entered day six.

Hafisham said his department will need to discuss with police whether they will extend the rescue efforts beyond the standard seven days slated for any such operations.

“I will have to discuss with police and my counterpart (Hulu Selangor district police chief Suffian Abdullah) whether we will extend beyond the seven days. This is because after seven days the bodies may not be intact or found in a good condition but we will have to discuss this first,” he said in a press conference today at the rescue command centre in Batang Kali.

Hafisham added that he will limit the number of personnel entering Sector C due to the risky conditions but assured that the team is determined to find all the remaining eight victims.

“When they found the body last night, they were determined to carry on but I had to stand them down. There are indications of dangerous water flow (in the sector) and I do not want to put the rescuers, some 100 of them, at risk.

“So, I will control the number of personnel coming in and out today, and I will place security officers to monitor the situation.”

Police also announced that they brought two new dogs from the K9 Unit to help with the search efforts. 

As the operation enters day six, the rescuers are back at the site this morning.

Previously, three officers suffered injuries and received treatment at the site while Blake of the K9 Unit had collapsed from exhaustion.

The landslide occurred at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite at 2.42am last Friday and it has, so far, claimed 25 lives. A total of 61 people survived while eight are still missing. – The Vibes, December 21, 2022