The landslide in Selangor state, on the outskirts of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, occurred before 3 a.m. (1900 GMT), tearing down a hillside at an organic farm with camping facilities, the state’s fire and rescue service said in a statement. Teh Lynn Xuan, 22, said she was building with 40 others when the landslide hit. “I heard a loud sound like thunder, but it was rocks falling,” he told Malaysian daily Berita Harian. “We felt the tents become unstable and dirt was falling around us. Fortunately, I was able to leave the tent and go to a safer place. My mother and I managed to crawl out and save ourselves.” She said one of her brothers has died, while another is in hospital. More than 90 people were trapped in the landslide and 59 have been found alive, while 22 are still missing, according to the fire and rescue department. In addition to the 12 dead, eight were hospitalized, it said. One of those taken to hospital was pregnant, while others had injuries ranging from minor injuries to suspected spinal injuries, Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa told a news conference. District police chief Sufian Abdullah said the dead were all Malaysians, including a child aged about five. Nearly 400 people from various agencies had been deployed for the ongoing search and rescue efforts, he told a news conference. The landslide came down from an estimated height of 30 meters (100 feet) above the campsite and covered an area of about one hectare (0.4 hectares), according to the state director of fire and rescue. Local television footage showed the aftermath of a large landslide through a steep, wooded area next to a road, while other images on social media showed rescuers scrambling over thick mud, large trees and other debris. Reuters Graphics “I pray the missing victims are found safely soon,” Malaysian Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad tweeted on Friday morning, one of several ministers headed to the scene. “The rescue team has been working since early. I’m going down there today.” The disaster struck about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur in the town of Batang Kali, just outside the popular hilltop area of Genting Highlands, an area known for its resorts, waterfalls and natural beauty. Bernama news agency tweeted that all campsites and water recreation areas around Batang Kali were ordered to close immediately until further notice, citing the interior minister. Photos posted on the Father’s Organic Farm Facebook page show a farmhouse in a small valley, with a large area where tents can be set up. Selangor is the most affluent state in the country and has experienced landslides in the past, often attributed to forest and land clearing. Leong Jim Meng, another camper, said he and his family did not expect a landslide as it had not been raining much, with a light drizzle in the past few days. “My family and I were trapped when the dirt covered our tent,” he told Berita Harian. “We managed to run to the parking lot and called the authorities. They arrived pretty quickly, about 30 minutes later.” A year ago, about 21,000 people were displaced by floods from torrential rains in seven states across the country. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff, Angie Teo, Yantoultra Ngui and Hasnoor Hussein. Written by Lincoln Feast. Editing by Ed Davies and Gerry Doyle Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
