We won’t give up, SAR team says as search continues for victims

 

Search and rescue personnel have been at the site of the Batang Kali landslide for five days.

PETALING JAYA: They may be tired but those involved in the search and rescue (SAR) operation at the site of the landslide in Gohtong Jaya, near Batang Kali, are determined to locate the remaining victims.

After five days of arduous SAR work in rough conditions, the team members are understandably weary but despite being given permission to take a break, many have chosen to stay on.

“They have continued to show sheer determination to find the remaining victims who are still missing.

“Perhaps they feel it’s not right to leave the site because they have been toiling from day one,” Selangor fire and rescue department assistant operations director Hafisham Noor told Bernama at the on-scene command post.

However, Hafisham said the safety and health of the team members would always be given priority and they needed sufficient rest to be able to continue their search operation.

Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said he was confident that the police personnel would give their full commitment to the SAR mission.

Besides the fire and rescue department and police, the other three agencies involved are the armed forces, Civil Defence Force and Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team.

In the 2.42am incident last Friday, a landslide measuring 300 metres long and 70 metres high occurred at the campsite which is located at Jalan Genting-Batang Kali.

The landslide has so far claimed 24 lives with nine victims still missing. A total of 61 out of the 94 campers survived the tragedy. - FMT