TEMPO.CO, Kuala Lumpur - The death toll of a landslide in a campsite in Malaysia reached 24, following the recovery of the bodies of a woman and two children by rescue teams on Saturday, December 17.

The landslide in Batang Kali, a popular hilly area, flattened the unlicensed campsite early on Friday while people slept in their tents. Those killed included seven children. Of the 94 people caught in the slide, 61 were safe and nine still missing, according to the Selangor state fire and rescue department.

State fire and rescue chief Norazam Khamis said chances of more survivors being found were slim, given the weight of mud pressing down on the site.

Search and rescue operations resumed for a second day earlier on Saturday, after a halt overnight due to heavy rains.

A total of 135 responders and seven rescue dogs resumed scouring through thick mud and downed trees around 8.30 a.m. with the assistance of excavators, Norazam told reporters.

An initial investigation showed an embankment of about 450,000 cubic meters of earth had collapsed. The earth fell from an estimated height of 30 meters and covered an area of about 0.4 hectares.

Survivors are in stable condition and will also receive trauma counseling, said Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday the government would provide 10,000 ringgit ($2,260) in aid to families of every person killed, while survivors would receive 1,000 ringgit per household.

Following the disaster, the Forestry Department in several states ordered the closure of campsites and hiking and off-road trails considered as high risk.

REUTERS

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