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KUALA LUMPUR – A holiday camping trip turned into a nightmare when a massive landslide hit the Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Batang Kali around 2am yesterday.
This has resulted in nearly 500 search-and-rescue personnel working against the clock to save a total of 94 people. So far, 21 bodies have been recovered and 61 rescued while seven are in hospital receiving treatment.
The Vibes brings you live updates as the tragedy enters the second day. – The Vibes, December 17, 2022
2.09pm – The National Disaster Management Agency has released the names of the victims who have been identified as of 7am today.
2pm – Two bodies – a woman and a boy – were brought out from the rubble at 1.02pm according to the Fire and Rescue Department.
It is believed that they were put in a police transport to be brought to a hospital. This brings the death toll to 23.
1.50pm – Fadhlina said the Education Ministry will continue to provide psychosocial support to the affected families.
She also urged for the families’ personal space to be respected while the identification process is being carried out.
1.42pm – Hulu Selangor Municipal Council president Mohd Hasry Nor Mohd said in a press conference in SAR ops centre that many of the 25 campsites in the district’s high-risk areas are in the process of applying for permits.
1.25pm – Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek bypassed a group of journalists by using a different entrance at the Sg Buloh Hospital. She arrived at 12.30pm and is believed to have attended a briefing by hospital staffers and met with grieving family members.
1.20pm – Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman has urged the Pahang government to review all hillside projects and those in landslide-prone areas.
She also called on tourism operators in high-risk areas to monitor for cracks as well as conditions of nearby rivers and seas.
“I hope the Batang Kali-Genting Highlands road will be repaired soon as the residents and workers depend on the main road to get around. The alternative route takes much longer and costs more in fuel and toll fees,” she said in a statement today.
12.45pm – Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Norazam Khamis did not rule out more survivors as they could be under piles of branches or rocks with pockets of air.
He also admitted that chances of survival are slim as the victims could have run out of air or suffocated when they were swept away by the landslide.
12.30pm – Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek is scheduled to visit family members at the Sg Buloh Hospital at 12.45pm today.
12.15pm – The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department says the exact location of the 12 missing victims has yet to be determined. Department director Datuk Norazam Khamis likened the soil conditions at the incident site to “soaked bread”, which poses a challenge for rescuers.
12.00pm – Police said in a press conference in Batang Kali that the 21 bodies found did not have any personal identification documents with them and urged family members to come forward.
11.30am – A volunteer with Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia at the Sg Buloh Hospital shared with the media that some family members are “holding on to hope” despite being told of their loved ones’ demise.
Volunteer Tan Chee Wei said some 50 people from the organisation have been providing meals and support to the affected victims and grieving family members since yesterday.
10.46am – Selangor Fire and Rescue Department chief Datuk Norazam Khamis said SAR operations will be concentrated at Sector B (Farmview camp) and Sector C (near the Riverside camp).
“This is based on the location we found the last victim yesterday. We are bringing in excavators to clear the area of mud and fallen trees.
“However, this will depend on current weather conditions.
“While there are no land movements, water is still flowing underground, which poses a danger to rescuers,” he added.
10.34am – Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh arrived at Sg Buloh Hospital at 10.02am to visit grieving family members who lost their loved ones in the landslide.
10.30am – Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah arrived at the SAR operation centre in Batang Kali at 10.19am.
He spent about 40 minutes at the ops centre being briefed by Selangor police chief Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed and Selangor Bomba director Datuk Norazam Khamis.
10.22am – The Nirvana Foundation will be providing free Buddhist, Taoist and Christian funeral services for the landslide victims. For further information, the public can call 012-357-5880.
9.58am – The Johor Forestry Department has ordered all eco-parks, hiking trails and four-wheel drive paths in forest reserves to be closed to the public starting today.
9.20am – The Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that three Singaporeans were found safe following the landslide tragedy.
9.15am – Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Norazam Khamis told the New Straits Times that the SAR operation was only stopped at 4am.
The SAR ops are divided into Sector A Hill View, Sector B, Farm View, and Sector C Riverside, with a focus on Sector A and Sector B.
9.10am – Members of the media are starting to gather at the Sg Buloh Hospital’s Forensic Department for updates on the identification of 21 bodies.
9.00am – Pahang Forestry Department closes down all campsites by rivers and in high-risk locations, such as hillsides and waterfalls. No date was given for the resumption of such activities.
8.00am – Rescue work resumes with the K9 Unit, Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team, and Emergency Medical Rescue Services from the Bukit Sentosa, Ampang, Pandan, Kota Anggerik, Kajang and Andalas stations.
12.01am – The search-and-rescue (SAR) operations for the remaining victims in the landslide incident at the Fathers’ Organic Farm campsite in Gohtong Jaya have been suspended due to rain. Hulu Selangor district police chief Suffian Abdullah said the rescue operations will resume at 8am today.
Additional reporting by Danial Dzulkifly