Penang landslide: Search halted to allow canine unit to locate buried victims

The search and rescue (SAR) operation at the affordable housing construction site at Lengkok Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah here is temporarily being halted to allow the Fire and Rescue Department's canine detection unit (K9) to locate victims who are still buried.

Penang Police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said the SAR cessation period had not yet been determined since the unit needed a silent situation to detect any movements.

"Nineteen members of the Tiger Platoon Battalion 2 General Operations Force (PGA) were also tasked to locate nearby illegal settlements, especially in the nearby forest areas as we fear a landslide may occur once again endangering their safety," he told reporters at the scene here today.

He said several family members of victims had also arrived at the scene to help the authorities identify any victim found.

Meanwhile, Putrajaya Fire and Rescue Department assistant director-general (Operations) Erwin Galan Teruki said they had divided the search area into three sectors to facilitate the K9 Unit to operate.

"We've put four dogs to check every sector and so far the K9 team has detected something in two locations of the landslide area. Efforts to remove victims are being actively carried out," he said.

The landslide was reported at 8.57am involving 14 victims believed to be buried beneath the debris.

They comprised a local, while the others are Indonesian, Rohingya and Bangladesh nationals.

So far only three victims have been found, however, the identities of all the victims have yet to be identified.

--BERNAMA