Two more bodies found at landslide beside seaside hotel

The bodies of two more victims of the landslide at the Lost Paradise Resort retaining wall project in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, have been recovered, one late last night and one a short while later, early this morning, by the Fire and Rescue Department team.

Penang executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari, who was still on site then, said the body of the second victim was found at 11.48pm last night and that of the third victim was found at 12.17am today.

Rescuers found the first victim at 11.18pm yesterday.

At 1am today, the search for the fourth person trapped in the landslide continued. The four, who are foreign workers, are believed to be Myanmar nationals.

"We are still searching for the fourth victim. Space wise, there are still some constraints because it's a very tight space, it is very difficult to dig, but it's very localised so all three bodies were found near one another," Zairil told Malaysiakini.

"They are still trying to extricate the first three bodies they found, which are still stuck in the pileage," Zairil added when contacted about 1am.

"But we are very grateful to all members of the search and rescue team who carried out their duties through the night," he added.

Zairil (photo) said the search and rescue team comprised 76 members from the Bagan Jermal, Teluk Bahang and Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Department, police, Health Department and volunteers living in Bukit Bendera and Mount Erskine.

Penang Island City Council (MBPP) issued a statement at 2pm yesterday, saying that the retaining wall that collapsed and buried the workers did not get the council’s approval to be built.

MBPP Mayor Yew Tung Seang did not say what action would be taken against the hotel owner.

George Town OCPD Asst Commissioner Che Zaimani Che Awang said the workers were hired by the hotel owner last week to erect the retaining wall.

Che Zaimani said based on his interview with the hotel owner, the workers had been working on the 8ft wall since last week.

Asked if the hotel owner, a paediatrician who also runs a school for special needs students, had obtained permission from the authorities to build the wall, Che Zaimani said "No".

"The construction work was carried out on his own private land, so he does not need to ask for permission to build the wall," Che Zaimani added.

He said the resort's gardener witnessed the incident at 9.20 last night and immediately informed the hotel owner and police.

"Yes, we have a witness who saw the wall give way. He was then attending to the pots and plants in the area.

"We are yet to obtain any information about the victims. All we know is that they are all males and most likely Myanmar nationals," he added.

Earlier, Bernama quoted Penang Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Mokhtar as confirming the location of the bodies, which were under a pile of earth about 4.5 metres (15 feet) deep.

The resort faces the sea. It is not located on a hillslope as speculated by certain quarters. - Mkini