In a landslide at a Malaysian campsite, 18 people were killed and 15 others are feared to be buried under the mud.
When the landslide occurred, there were 94 people estimated to have been sleeping at Batang Kali in Selangor, about 30 miles (50 km) north of Kuala Lumpur.
According to Reuters, 18 people died while sleeping in tents. This includes three children and 10 adults. According to the Associated Press, one boy was just five years old.
Sixty-one people were uninjured when they were rescued from the farm’s organic farm. Eight others, including a pregnant lady, were also taken to hospital. Zaliha Mustafa, the health minister, said that injuries ranged from minor cuts and a possible spinal injury.
Selangor’s fire department arrived on the scene just half an hour after they received a distress call at 3:00am. Photos were posted of rescuers using flashlights to dig through rubble and soil.
Teh Lynn Xuan (22 years old) said that one of her brothers had been killed while another was being treated in hospital.
Berita Harian, a Malay-language newspaper, told her that she heard a loud sound similar to thunder but that it was rocks falling.
She stated that she felt the tents becoming unstable, and that the soil was crumbling around her. I was able escape the tent and find safety. My mother and me managed to escape the tent and save ourselves.
The landslide, which fell from the roadside at an estimated height 30m (98ft), covered an area of approximately three acres (1.2 ha).
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Minister of Natural Resources and Environment) stated that an initial investigation revealed that an embankment of approximately 450,000 cubic metres of earth had fallen.
The rescue operation involved approximately 400 people. They had to climb over large trees, thick mud and other debris.
Nga Kor Ming, local government development minister, stated to local media that the camp site has been illegally operating for two years.
Father’s Organic Farm Facebook Page shows a farmhouse located in a small valley with ample space for tents. Although the operator is licensed to operate a camping site, he has not been granted government approval.
Mr Nga warned that if found guilty, the camp operator could be sentenced to up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to 50,000 Ringgit (PS9 2291). The farm owners didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.
Malaysian landslides can occur after heavy rainfall. However, one camper claimed that it was not expected since there had been very little drizzle in the days before.
Berita Harian was told by him: “My family, and I were trapped when soil covered our tent.
“We were able to get to the parking lot quickly and called the authorities. They arrived quickly, arriving in about 30 minutes.
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