One dead, 4 buried alive in Cameron Highlands landslide

 

One man died while four others are feared to have been buried alive following a landslide early today at Batu 54, Blue Valley, Cameron Highlands.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (Operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said the department received a distress call at 2.51am, and so far, the search and rescue operation is still ongoing.

“Based on preliminary information, there are three adult men and one adult woman still buried in the landslide. However, their identities have yet to be ascertained,” he said in a statement.

Ismail said the nine fire and rescue personnel who were initially rushed to the location had to walk about 3km to get to the landslide location.

Meanwhile, the Cameron Highlands District Disaster Management Committee said the five victims of the landslide were confirmed to be Myanmar nationals.

They are Shing Lan Har, 56; Shing Aung, 39; Om Myue, 38; Haphey, 36, and Thang Moung, 25.

“Cameron Highlands police were alerted to the incident at 2.10am on Friday and rushed to the location to inspect and coordinate the search and rescue operation.

“Inspection found that the landslide has cut off access to the scene which is accessible only by four-wheel drives,” it said in a statement today.

The committee also advised the public not to speculate about the incident and contact the operations room at 05-4915999 or the nearest police station if they have any information.

Meanwhile, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Mohammad Zaidi Wan Isa said the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team and the K9 unit had been deployed to the scene of the incident.

He said they were also assisted by special forces from Perak, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

“All the victims, including a woman, are believed to be living in a house that was buried in the landslide,” he said in a statement.

In a related development, he said that the department also received a report of a landslide incident in Ulu Sungai Palas, Cameron Highlands at 9.33pm yesterday, but it did not involve any casualties or damage.

- Bernama