Author: web Desk

 

BATANG KALI, Dec 16 (Bernama) — The bodies of a mother and child, believed to be buried alive in the landslide at a campsite in Gohtong Jaya this morning, were found hugging each other.

 

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Norazam Khamis said they were the 17th and 18th bodies found at the site next to the river at 4.40 pm.

 

“At 5 pm, the rescue team located another body in the same area and efforts are being done to bring it out,” he told reporters at a press conference at the location today.

 

 

 

Norazam said 19 bodies have been found as of this afternoon while 14 other victims still missing.

 

“Search and rescue efforts will continue until all the victims are found,” he said, adding that the operations will only be halted in the event of heavy rain.

 

A total of more than 700 rescue personnel are involved in the operations.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Hulu Selangor District Police Chief Supt Suffian Abdullah said the next of kin of the deceased can go to the forensic department of Sungai Buloh Hospital to identify the body.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 Bernama) — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has sent food aid to rescue mission workers and victims of the landslide at the campsite Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Gohtong Jaya, Batang Kali, Selangor.

 

Its Minister, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said the aid was sent in collaboration with several supermarkets.

 

“The aid was sent to Gohtong Jaya, Batang Kali. Other aid will follow soon. Please pray for the well-being of Malaysians affected by this tragedy,” he said in a Facebook post today.

 

 

 

Salahuddin also expressed his appreciation to the other ministries which deployed assistance to the scene of the incident.

 

According to the KPDN, the food aid, comprising bread, biscuits, mineral water and isotonic drinks, snacks, cereals and packet drinks, was contributed by Yayasan FoodBank Malaysia, AEON, Econsave, Lotus, MR DIY and 99 Speedmart.

 

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar urged the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and agencies under the ministry to help the families of victims of the landslide.

 

 

 

In a statement issued today, he expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the landslide incident.

 

The 2.42 am incident, which involved a landslide measuring 300 metres long and 70 metres high, resulted in 21 fatalities as of 7.10 pm.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) — The number of flood victims in Terengganu and Kelantan recorded a downward trend while Johor and Pahang remained the same as a new temporary relief centre (PPS) opened in Perak tonight.

 

In TERENGGANU, the number of flood victims tonight showed a decrease to 20 people from five families compared to a total of 29 people from eight families this evening.

 

The secretariat of the State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) in a statement said that Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Atas Tol in Kuala Terengganu is the only PPS currently operating.

 

 

 

 

In KELANTAN, a total of 1,881 flood victims from 593 families in Pasir Mas district are housed in seven PPS, down from 2,006 people from 632 families this evening.

 

The Kelantan JPBN secretariat said a total of 712 victims were sheltered in SK Tok Deh, SK Kedai Tanjong (34), SK Gual Periok (516), Mukim Padang Licin Mosque (57), PPS Putat Tujoh (142), SK Kubang Kual (256) and SK Sri Kiambang (164).

 

In JOHOR, the number of flood victims remains at 91 with two districts still affected by floods, namely Segamat and Mersing.

 

 

 

 

According to Johor JPBN, the four PPS that are still open are three in Segamat involving 21 families and one PPS in Mersing involving three families.

 

It was the same in PAHANG, with the state JPBN secretariat reporting that the flood situation has not changed tonight, where 141 victims from 36 families are still housed at the SK Sinar Mutiara PPS in Sungai Miang, Pekan.

 

Meanwhile, in PERAK, the PPS in Manjung and Kampar districts were closed at 6 pm. However, a new PPS was activated in Bagan Datuk district at 3 pm, namely in SK Sungai Tiang Darat.

 

The state JPBN secretariat said 15 flood victims from seven families were seeking shelter there.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BATANG KALI, Dec 16 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tonight announced an immediate aid of RM10,000 for each family of victims who died in the landslide tragedy at the Fathers’ Organic Farm camping site in Gohtong Jaya here.

 

He also said a RM1,000 compassionate aid will be given to household heads of survivors.

 

Anwar said the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) will channel the allocations to the Selangor state secretary in his capacity as the state disaster management committee chairman.

 

 

 

“The Selangor state secretary will channel the aid directly to the (families of the) victims,” he told reporters after a visit to the site of the incident where he was given a briefing here tonight.

 

As of 7.10 pm, 21 victims were confirmed to have died in the incident while 12 more are still missing.

 

Anwar said foreign leaders also expressed sympathy over the tragedy, including Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

 

 

 

“I want to also reiterate my sadness and grief for the families of the victims involved in this tragedy,” he said.

 

The prime minister also expressed his highest appreciation for the spirit shown and sacrifices of all personnel involved in search and rescue operations in high-risk situations.

 

“In completing this task, there is also a safety risk for them, especially with the unpredictable weather and rain,” he said.

 

Asked if the government plans to set up a committee to investigate if there were elements of human error behind the incident, Anwar said he would wait for the initial report first.

 

“I don’t want to get ahead of the report, let us wait a moment and take action as soon as we study all the reports,” he said.

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency