KUALA LUMPUR – The search for campers still trapped after Friday’s landslide near Genting Highlands continued on Saturday morning, marking more than 24 hours since the disaster that has killed 23.
Two more bodies – a woman and a boy – were found on the second day of the search, Selangor fire and rescue chief Norazam Khamis said Saturday afternoon, leaving at least 10 more still missing.
“We are already on our second day and if they are trapped underneath, they might not have oxygen,” he said, adding that some of the survivors were found trapped between five to ten feet underground. “Some of them were seen dragged by the soil movement and their hands and legs dismembered.”
Datuk Norazam also bemoaned muddy conditions – like “soaked bread” – having been saturated with water.
The search and rescue operation at Father’s Organic Farm was halted around midnight due to bad weather, with 61 rescued from the Batang Kali site, which the authorities said was not licensed for camping.
Those found alive include three Singaporeans, Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday morning.
“The Malaysian government is working swiftly to ensure all affected in the tragedy be given immediate assistance,” the statement added.
Search and rescue operations resumed around 8.30am on Saturday with the assistance of excavators and seven canines.
In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, several states including Selangor, Pahang and Johor have suspended camping and other recreational activities.
“All forest eco-parks, hiking trails and four-wheel-drive routes in Johor permanent forest reserves will be closed to the public starting Dec 17 until a date that will be announced later,” the state’s forestry department said on its Facebook page.
It added that this is a precautionary measure during the ongoing year-end monsoon.
The annual rainy season that stretches from November to February has regularly caused deadly and damaging floods. The last bout saw 54 killed and RM6 billion (S$1.8 billion) in economic losses nationwide.
Over 700 personnel across various government agencies have been involved in the mission to rescue the 94 registered at the campsite that was buried under 450,000 cubic metres of earth that fell from a height of 30m onto an area of about 0.4ha in size.