Landa Landa Landa Campground In Malaysia: Nine People Died And 25 Missing
JAKARTA - Landslides killed at least nine people while they slept at a camp in Malaysia on Friday morning, officials said, with search teams exploring thick mud and cutting trees for about two dozen people who were still missing.
Landslides in Selangor State, on the outskirts of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, occurred at around 03.00 a.m. - 19.00 GMT) on the side of the road near organic agriculture with camping facilities, the fire department said and rescue states in a statement.
More than 90 people were trapped in landslides and 60 were found safe, with 25 still missing, according to a message on social media by the National Disaster Management Agency.
In addition to the nine people who died, seven others were injured, he said.
The police chief of Suffian Abdullah district said the dead were Malaysians, including a about 5-year-old boy.
Nearly 400 people from several agencies have been deployed, with search and rescue efforts underway, he told a news conference.
Landslides fell from an altitude of about 30 meters (100 feet) above the camp, covering an area of about one acre (0.4 hectares), according to state directors of the fire department and rescue.
16 Dis 2022 - KEJADIAN TANAH RUNTUH DI FATHER ORGANIC FARM, BATANG KALI, SELANGOR.Setakat jam 9.15 pagi, seramai 92 mangsa telah ditemui. Hasil siasatan mendapati 53 mangsa yang ditemui selamat, 7 cedera dan 8 mangsa meninggal dunia. Sehingga kini operasi SAR masih diteruskan. pic.twitter.com/yhV9oGCmLg
— NADMA Malaysia (@mynadma) December 16, 2022
Footages from local television showed after a large landslide through a steep forest area beside the road, while other images on social media showed rescue workers climbing thick mud, large trees and other debris.
"I pray that the missing victims can be found safely," tweeted Malaysia's Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, on Twitter on Friday morning.
"The rescue team has been working from the start. I will be there today," he continued.
The disaster occurred about 50 km (30 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur in Batang Kali City, just outside the peak area of the popular Genting Highlands hill, an area famous for its resorts, waterfalls and natural beauty.
Images posted on Father's Organic Farm's Facebook page show an agricultural house in a small valley, with a large area where the tent can be established.
Selangor is the country's most prosperous state and has experienced landslides before, often associated with forest and land clearing.
This area is in the middle of the rainy season, but there are no heavy rains or earthquakes recorded overnight.
A year ago, about 21,000 people were displaced due to flooding due to heavy rains in seven states throughout Malaysia.