2 found dead embracing each other under landslide soil

 

The landslide affected several campsites in Batang Kali early this morning, with the death toll currently at 19. (Bernama pic)

HULU SELANGOR: Two more bodies, believed to be that of a mother and her daughter, have been found buried under the soil following the landslide which affected several campsites in Batang Kali.

According to Selangor fire and rescue department director Norazam Khamis, the two were found embracing each other at the Riverside campsite.

“They were both found at 4.40pm. They were hugging each other. We believe they were mother and daughter,” Norazam said.

Meanwhile, around 5.20pm, rescuers found the body of another victim. They have yet to ascertain the gender of the victim.

The recovery of the three bodies brings the total number of deaths to 19.

Search and rescue operations are still ongoing with 14 people still unaccounted for, according to authorities.

Norazam said 16 victims were retrieved from sector A (Hillview campsite), of which four of the deceased were children.

He added that rescuers will continue search and rescue operations until the final victim is found, though this is dependent on weather and land conditions.

He said rescuers have to be careful as there was still water movement underneath the soil.

“If there’s soil movement, we have to temporarily halt the operation,” he said. - FMT