KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Rescue groups in Malaysia on Saturday recovered the physique of the final particular person unaccounted for after a landslide that flattened a campsite final week, bringing what’s considered the ultimate dying toll to 31.
The landslide occurred within the early hours of Dec. 15 at Batang Kali, a preferred hilly space about 50km (30 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur, whereas campers have been asleep of their tents, tearing down a hillside and into an natural farm that officers mentioned was not licensed to function as a campsite.
Among the many victims have been 11 kids and 14 girls, in response to the hearth and rescue division. Of the 92 folks initially trapped within the landslide, 61 folks have been discovered secure.
Rescue staff, of their ninth day of search operations, discovered the physique of a boy in a sleeping bag whereas digging by mud and particles, Hulu Selangor police chief Suffian Abdullah mentioned. The boy was estimated to be round seven years outdated.
Suffian mentioned they imagine all victims have now been discovered, however search operations will proceed to help in investigations.
Political Cartoons on World Leaders
Preliminary investigations discovered that the earth fell from an estimated top of 30 metres (100 ft) and coated an space of about eight acres.
Landslides are frequent in Malaysia however sometimes solely after heavy rains. Flooding happens usually, with greater than 72,000 folks displaced up to now this 12 months by torrential rains nationwide.
(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Enhancing by Hugh Lawson)
Copyright 2022 Thomson Reuters.
