LATEST: 16 people including 1 child dead after Batang Kali landslide, 61 successfully rescued

Holiday campers who were enjoying their time at a local campsite were suddenly beset with unimaginable tragedy, when a landslide had struck the region and left as many as 100 people trapped underneath the rubble. As reported by local newspaper The Star, the incident was said to have happened earlier this morning (December 16th, 2022) at Father’s Organic Farm sometime around 2.24am.

Landslide strikes Batang Kali campsite

Quoting Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Norazam Khamis, it was said that the campsite had been directly in the path of the landslide and measured about one acre wide.

A team of emergency responders were dispatched from the Fire and Rescue Departments located in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Rawang, Genting Highlands, Sentosa, Ampang, Pandan, Kota Anggerik, Kajang to the scene of the disaster and arrived at 3.00am, reports MalaysiaNow.

“Also mobilised to the scene of the incident is the Special Tactical Team of Malaysian Rescue Operations (STORM),” said Norazam.

Photos circulating online show many of them working against the clock as they dug through soil and mud, in hopes of recovering as many people as possible. The height of the landslide is said to measure about 30 metres.

As of writing, 61 victims are said to have been successfully rescued and are safe. As of 1.00pm today (December 16th, 2022), a Tweet from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government reports that 16 people have died from the disaster, with one of them being a child. Rescue efforts are expected to remain ongoing with the deployment of tracking dog units (K9) and Emergency Services Support Units (EMRS).

UPDATE TERKINI TANAH RUNTUH BATANG KALI

[[ 1:00 PETANG ]]

Jumlah Mangsa: 94 orang
Jumlah Selamat: 61 orang
Jumlah Meninggal: 16 orang
Jumlah Belum Dijumpai: 17 orang

Operasi menyelamat masih dijalankan. pic.twitter.com/igAy0Qpw1J

— KPKT (@kpkt_gov) December 16, 2022

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available to the press.

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