Landslide: Day eight of SAR operation fails to locate last remaining victim

KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts are ongoing to find the sole victim still unaccounted for in the landslide tragedy at the Father's Organic Farm camping site in Gohtong Jaya, Batang Kali, as the search and rescue (SAR) operation entered its eighth day yesterday.

Despite being challenged by fatigue and unpredictable weather, it never weakened the spirit of the rescue team made up of various agencies who resumed the operation as early as 8 am.

Yesterday's operation was focused on digging in Sector C. It was preceded by the call to prayer or 'azan' by Private Muhammad Asyraf Ghazali from the 25th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Hafisham Mohd Noor said a total of 91 personnel were deployed, assisted by nine dogs from the K9 unit and nine excavators.

However, the SAR operation, which saw digging works reach over 70 per cent, was suspended temporarily at 5.30 pm due to heavy rain before it resumed at 8.30 pm.

Meanwhile, Hulu Selangor district police chief Supt Suffian Abdullah said the post-mortem on the four bodies found yesterday had been completed, and all the victims had been claimed by kin.

The four bodies of a man, a woman and two children were discovered in a tent buried under seven metres of mud at 11.04 am.

This brings the death toll to 30 people, while 61 were rescued.

Police have also revised the number of victims involved in the deadly landslide from 94 to 92.

Selangor police chief Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed said the new figure was obtained after several rounds of verification based on information and reports from various parties, including family members of victims.

-- BERNAMA