Search team to dig deeper in efforts to locate remaining landslide victims

The search and rescue team will dig deeper into the ground to locate the remaining victims after the 25th was found buried under 17m of debris in Sector C (Riverside) last night at the Father's Organic Farm campsite in Gohtong Jaya.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Hafisham Mohd Noor said more victims could be buried under the site surroundings. 

"We had already dug and combed through the exact spot. Apparently the victims could be buried much deeper in the ground.

"As such, today we will most likely dig deeper into the debris and hope to find the other victims," ​​he told a press conference in Batang Kali.

Hafisham said the search and rescue today involving 106 personnel from various agencies would be carefully executed, taking into account the soft ground conditions in the operation area.

"The search will be conducted over Sector C (Riverside), Sector A (Hillview) and Sector B (Farmview) but we will focus more on Sector C.

"We will also limit the number of personnel allowed into the area because of the wet, muddy ground conditions that had caused the excavators to get stuck in deep clay. 

"Our team had to cut down trees and place them on the ground surface to continue the excavation work," he said.

Asked if the search would continue if the missing victims are not found after a certain period of time, Hafisham said the matter would be discussed with all parties involved, including the police.

He said according to the SOPs, operations for missing persons usually continue for seven days. 

The landslide which occurred at 2.42am last Friday has claimed 26 lives so far while seven victims are still missing. It was reported that 94 people were involved in the tragedy.