Landslide SAR operation deeply affected rescue personnel

 

The search and rescue (SAR) operation of the landslide tragedy at the campsite of Father’s Organic Farm, Gohtong Jaya, which ended today, left profound effects on the various members of the rescuing team.

Hulu Selangor Fire and Rescue Department head Ahmadi Muhamad Hasan said apart from the physical exertion, the personnel were also emotionally affected during the nine-day SAR operation.

He said the soft earth and rainy weather also hampered movements and demanded the perseverance of rescuers.

“It cannot be denied that the emotions of the team at ground zero are sometimes severely challenged when they failed to find any victims or new indications on their whereabouts,” he told Bernama today.

Ahmadi said rescuers were given therapy and words of encouragement to raise their morale to continue looking for victims.

Despite the discovery of the bodies of four family members who were the 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th victims on the seventh day of the search, he said the SAR operation continued to face difficulties.

“To find just one more victim in a very wide area of almost 15 acres is very difficult,” he said.

Ahmadi said that, in addition to using excavators, rescue workers with tracking dogs had to search the same area many times to locate victims.

“Thank God, finally at around 4.30pm yesterday, we managed to find the last body. As a rescue team, finding a victim is the most effective medicine to remove all our fatigue,” he said.

Earlier, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani officially ended the SAR operation at 12 noon after he confirmed that all victims have been accounted for.

A total of 92 victims were involved in the landslide on Dec 16, 61 of whom survived. Among the deceased were 18 adults and 13 children, including a one-year-old baby.

In total, 20 bodies were found in sector A (hill view), one in sector B (farm view), and another 10 in sector C (riverside).

- Bernama