Three dead, many feared buried in Tanjung Bungah landslide

At least three people have been killed in a landslide incident at a construction site in Tanjung Bungah, here, this morning.

In the incident, an approximate 20 construction workers were reportedly working at a site near the hillside before it collapsed at about 8.50am on Saturday.

According to Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Department chief, Ismail Mohd Zain, rescue efforts are underway.

The bodies of two of the victims were found at 10am and the rescuers are still trying to extricate the body of another victim that had been found.

The injured victim was sent to the Penang Hospital.

Penang Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Moktar was quoted by Bernama as saying that, "the bodies of two Indonesians were found at 10am."

The victims' identities have not been ascertained.

Saadon said one of the victims was believed to be a local while the others were Indonesians, Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.

He said the SAR operations involved three zones on an area of 15 square metres and it was expected to take time as all the victims were buried deep under the clay soil and there was possibility of another landslide.

"The steep slope makes it quite difficult to dig the ground..some of the areas are considered unsafe," he said. Saadon said the victims were working on the basement part of the building when the mishap happened.

"The collapsed area was the basement space," he said.

Meanwhile, Penang City Council mayor Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the council had issued a stop work order for the project.

"We are waiting for the report from the engineer to know the exact cause of the incident,\" she said when met at the scene.