A massive landslide occurred on Friday, December 16, at a popular holiday campsite along Malaysia's Batang Kali-Genting Highlands road, killing 21 people and leaving 12 missings.
A landslide in Malaysia early Friday killed at least 21 people, including a 5-year-old child, and left more than 12 people missing. Officials told Reuters that search and rescue teams are on the scene looking for survivors. On the outskirts of the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur, in the state of Selangor, the landslide started around three in the morning local time (1900 GMT).
According to a statement from the state fire and rescue department, the landslide completely destroyed a farmhouse that provided camping facilities and was located by the side of the road.
The tragedy had occurred close to the Genting Highlands, a picturesque hill country region in the Batang Kali district, north of the capital, which is known for its resorts and its stunning scenery.
Landslides have previously occurred in Selangor and are frequently attributed to logging and land clearing. In seven states across the nation a year ago, flooding brought on by torrential rain forced about 21,000 people to flee their homes.
At the Father's Organic Farm campsite near Gohtong Jaya in Pahang, 61 additional people were rescued throughout the day from the soil and mud that covered an area measuring more than 500 meters in length, 200 meters in width, and 8 meters in depth, displacing about 450,000 square meters of earth.
The incident, the 23rd landslide reported nationally this year, involved a sizable number of people and was the worst tragedy to date.
Despite being hampered by the rainy conditions brought on by the North-East Monsoon, personnel from various search and rescue services are still working around the clock to find the missing.
According to information obtained, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department firefighters were the first on the scene at around 3 a.m. after responding to a distress call at 2.24 a.m.
According to Datuk Norazam Khamis, director of the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department, the firefighters were recruited from the fire and rescue stations in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Rawang, Genting Highlands, Sentosa, Ampang, Pandan, Kota Anggerik, Kajang, and Andalas. It was discovered that K9 tracker dogs and members of the Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) and Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) were also participating in the SAR mission.
In the event of bad weather, Norazam stated that SAR operations would continue for the following 24 hours in an effort to find 12 additional victims.
The government issued an immediate seven-day closure order for all camping areas near rivers, waterfalls, and hillsides as a precaution. Nga Kor Ming, the minister responsible for local government development, stated that the closure would last until new directives from the government were issued.
According to Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the landslide moved about 450,000 square meters of earth.
Jalan B66 Batang Kali-Genting Highlands was shut down by the police after the tragedy for both security and SAR operation purposes.
In a statement, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim directed all pertinent government agencies to conduct a thorough and organized search and rescue (SAR) operation. He urged everyone in Malaysia to pray for a successful SAR mission.
© Vygr Media Private Limited 2022. All Rights Reserved.
