A landslide has struck a campsite at a Malaysian farm on Friday, killing at least 16 people while 20 people are still missing officials confirmed to reporters.
Rescue work is still on as Nor Hisham Mohammad, director of the operations division at the fire and rescue department said, t “as of 1 pm (0500 GMT), 16 victims have died. The search now is focused on the remaining 17,” AFP reports.
The local government development minister, o Nga Kor Ming, said 61 people have been found safe after the predawn landslide near the town of Batang Kali, just outside the capital Kuala Lumpur and near a mountain casino resort.
Veronica Loi, who was camping at the site overnight and survived the landslide, told AFP that her family was sleeping when they heard a sudden, loud sound.
“We saw the tent beside us was totally gone,” she said.
The rescue team however, have made available an excavator for more work to be carried out as Hundreds of government personnel including police and rescuers have stormed the gates leading to the campsite compound.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the farm where the campsite was situated tagged, “Father’s Organic Farm” changed its Facebook profile picture to all black on Friday.
Nga said the “campsite is operating without a licence,” and that the operators would be punished if found guilty by the court.
Other activities geared towards rescue are large fallen trees and crushed vehicles, as well as search and rescue personnel wearing headlamps, digging with shovels; as the search for survivors continues.
The government has imposed strict rules with regards to hillside development, but landslides have continued to occur after bouts of bad weather.
