Batang Kali tragedy: No decision to form investigation committee yet - PM

BATANG KALI LANDSLIDE | A landslide has occurred at Father's Organic Farm, a popular campsite near Batang Kali in Selangor, today.

With 21 confirmed deaths so far and 12 people still missing, the landslide may be one of the country’s worst in recent decades.

Thank you for following Malaysiakini’s live reports.

No decision to form investigation committee yet - PM

11.00pm: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he will wait and see before deciding whether a committee should be established to investigate the landslide.

“For this, we will wait for preliminary reports from the inspector-general of police, the Fire and Rescue Department, and all the teams that will be filing reports.

“I don’t want to pre-empt their reports. Let us wait, study their reports, and take the best course of action after looking through all those reports,” he tells reporters when asked to comment on a proposal to set up a committee to investigate whether human error had contributed to the tragedy.

He says this after receiving a briefing from the Fire and Rescue Department, police, and the Minerals and Geoscience Department.

Anwar also expresses appreciation for rescue workers combing through the scene, saying they are taking a risk amid uncertain weather and occasional rain tonight.

RM10k aid for dead victims’ families, RM1k for survivors

10.45pm: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announces a financial aid of RM10,000 for the next-of-kin of those killed in the landslide. Survivors will receive RM1,000.

The money will be channelled to the beneficiaries from the Prime Minister’s Department and its National Disaster Management Agency, via the Selangor state secretary in the latter’s capacity as head of the Selangor’s State Disaster Management Committee.

Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts have been paused since around 9.30pm due to rain and will resume tomorrow.

School did not organise trip - education minister

10.25pm: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek confirms teachers and students from SJKC Mun Choong were involved in the landslide.

However, she says the school did not organise the trip, instead it was a private activity.

“It may have been a family trip or among friends, we are not sure yet. We are still trying to get the actual facts regarding their trip there,” she is quoted as saying by Bernama while visiting the Sungai Buloh Hospital Forensic Department.

She says her ministry is also ascertaining whether teachers and pupils from other schools were affected by the incident, and her ministry is prepared to provide them and their next-of-kin with financial assistance and psychosocial support.

Anwar arrives at the scene

9:51pm: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrives at the scene of the landslide to receive a briefing from rescue agencies on the latest situation.

With 21 confirmed fatalities so far and 12 still unaccounted for, the landslide may be one of the country’s worst in recent decades, after the Highland Towers tragedy in 1993 (48 deaths) and the Pos Dipang mudflow in 1996 (44 deaths).

PM to announce aid for victims - Zahid

8pm: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will later announce aid for all victims, says Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The premier is expected to arrive at the site of the mishap at 9.30pm.

Zahid, who helms the national disaster committee, also cautions against vacationing at campsites in the area during the monsoon season.

Meanwhile, Unifi is setting up cables for the media to access the internet.

Media personnel is finding it challenging to cover the landslide incident due to poor internet access.

Death toll at 21

7.45pm: As of 7pm, 21 victims have reportedly died in the tragic landslide today.

This includes four boys, one girl, four men and 12 women.

The search is still ongoing for 12 missing victims.

The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department is continuing its efforts with assistance from other agencies including the police, Persatuan Bomba Sukarela, Bomba Swasta, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Team Smart and the Health Ministry.

A total of 94 victims have been discovered at the site of the tragic landslide thus far. Fifty-four of those rescued were found safe while seven were reportedly injured.

Among those rescued at the site were three Singaporeans, according to Singapore’s Foreign Ministry.

Death tally climbs to 19

6.05pm: The death toll from the landslide rises to 19.

In a press conference, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Norazam Khamis announces that 19 people have died in the tragic incident - with authorities in the process of excavating the body of one victim.

According to Norazam, four out of those who died in the landslide today were children. He also reports that at present, 14 individuals are still missing while two victims are injured.

The 17th and 18th victims are believed to be a mother and her child - around the age of four - found embracing each other, he adds.

The fire brigade plans to continue operations until the remaining 14 individuals are found. It will, however, halt operations immediately in the event of rainy weather.

Meanwhile, Hulu Selangor district police chief Suffian Abdullah announces that all of the dead victims have been transferred to the Sungai Buloh Hospital. They were earlier sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Canines are being used to help in the search for the missing, he adds.

Death toll soars to 18, 15 others still missing

5.40pm: Two more bodies have been pulled out of the rubbles in Batang Kali, bringing the total number of fatalities to 18.

According to the Fire and Rescue Department, 15 others remain missing, as of 5pm.

The deceased include four children (three boys, and one girl), as well as 11 women and three men.

King, queen relay condolences

5.30pm: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the queen relay their condolences to the families of those who perished in the landslide.

The monarchs also express gratitude to enforcement bodies involved in SAR efforts at the site and wished for the operations to rescue the victims to go on smoothly.

13 adults, three children perish in landslide- Nadma

5.15pm: Nadma announces the breakdown of the 16 victims who died in the Batang Kali landslides this morning.

Quoting the Selangor Health Department, Nadma states the 16 victims included three adult men, ten adult women, two boys and one girl.

Taking to Facebook, Nadma says that this was based on the death toll as of 1pm.

PAS deploys volunteers to help rescue effort

4.45pm: PAS mobilises members of its volunteer corps (Unit Amal) to aid SAR operations at the site of the landslide.

According to the party's central committee, about 10 members from its Selangor wing were given permission to enter ground zero to help locate missing victims.

Meanwhile, the party also relayed its condolences to the families of the victims.

"PAS has instructed all its representatives, especially from Selangor, to extend the necessary help (to the victims' families).

"We urge the government, particularly local councils to take strict action in regulating recreational and camping activities at risk-prone areas during this rainy season," PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan says in a statement.

‘Regular holiday turns into a disaster’

3.23pm: Landslide victim Celine, 27, expected a regular holiday with her family when they arrived at the campsite yesterday afternoon.

However, she says the group of 12 were awoken around 2.20am today when the first wave of the landslide occurred.

“Initially, when it (the land) started to collapse, we didn’t hear a sound.

“In wave one (of the landslide) we managed to come out of the tent when it was buried by the soil. But half of my father’s leg got buried.

“At the time, we saved him and freed his leg,” she tells Malaysiakini when met at the Hulu Yam Bharu district police station where her 53-year-old father was lodging a report.

Celine adds her family is very fortunate as they managed to find safety before the second wave of the landslide started.

“Looking back, if we waited for a few more minutes, we would have been buried alive,” she says.

Celine, however, adds that her family lost their personal belongings including a car, identification cards, camping equipment, bank cards and handphones.

Meanwhile, Tan Ah Thoe, 66, is at the police station awaiting updates about her missing son.

Her son, 38-year-old Hong Mei Jing was camping at the site when the incident occurred.

Tan heard of the landslide through the news this morning.

Three camping sites have no licences - Nga

2.30pm: According to FMT, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming says three camping sites located in the tragedy area were operating without licences.

He adds that the operator could face a maximum of three years imprisonment and be slapped with RM50,000 fine if convicted.

Confirming that the operators were permitted to open organic farms, Nga claims that they had not submitted an application to establish camping grounds.

He reportedly said that 155 local authorities across Malaysia have been instructed to clear all campsites near rivers for seven days - with immediate effect.

According to Nga, the government will work with the Malaysian Meteorological Department to review the risk faced by such campsites, advising operators to engage with the Mineral and Geoscience Department to assess their land structure.

Selangor MB offers condolences, urge M’sians to pray

2pm: Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari offers condolences to the families of those who perished in the landslide.

According to him, a total of 446 rescue personnel from the Selangor Fire and Rescue Services Department are involved in SAR efforts at the location, assisted by those from other agencies.

"I will go to the site tonight with the prime minister and urge fellow Malaysians to pray for the SAR operations to go on smoothly, and for those still missing to be found safely," he says in a statement.

Death toll rises to 16, 61 found safe

1.04pm: The death toll from the landslide rises to 16.

According to the latest update (as of 1pm) by the Housing and Local Government Ministry, 61 people were found safe.

Efforts are underway to locate the 17 who are still missing, the ministry says on Twitter.

Saifuddin orders camping sites in Batang Kali to close

12.45pm: Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announces the closure of all camping sites and water recreational areas in Batang Kali, following the landslide.

The closure will be enforced with immediate effect, Bernama quotes the minister saying.

Ministry provides volunteers, food

12.27pm: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry provides volunteers and food to rescuers involved in SAR operations at the site.

Its minister Salahuddin Ayub said this is to ensure the SAR efforts proceed smoothly.

Teachers among the victims

12.22pm: About 20 teachers from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Mun Choong, and their families are among the victims involved in the tragedy.

Berita Harian reports the school's Parent-Teacher’s Association (PTA) head U Chin Hong as saying that several teachers who survived the landslide had been sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment.

Use alternative route, Resorts World Genting tells guests

12.20pm: Bernama reports Resorts World Genting as advising its guests travelling to and from the resort to use the Karak Highway via Genting Sempah route until further notice following a landslide incident near the campsite at the Father’s Organic Farm in Gohtong Jaya, Batang Kali.

In a travel advisory released on its website, the resort operator says both sides of the road access to Resorts World Genting had been closed by the police following the incident.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused,” it says.

Currently, a search and rescue operation is being carried out by the authorities at the campsite near the road linking Batang Kali with Genting Highlands.

Father’s Organic Farm declines to comment

11.40am: Malaysiakini attempts to contact Father’s Organic Farm over this incident but a representative declined to comment.

The representative says this is because they are busy right now receiving non-stop calls from families of victims involved in the landslide.

Death toll rises to 13

11.35am: Bernama reports that the death toll has risen to 13, quoting Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

Earlier, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) reported that 94 people were involved in the tragedy.

According to the agency, 60 victims were found safe, while nine had died (then). Efforts are underway to trace the remaining 25.

The seven injured in the landslide have been taken to the Selayang, Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Kubu Bharu hospitals for treatment, according to the minister.

PM 'shocked', to visit site

11.15am: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he is shocked after hearing news of the landslide.

The premier also noted that he had ordered a thorough SAR operation to be carried out and he would visit the site later today.

Confirming that several ministers would be present at the site to check out the situation, Anwar urges lawmakers to not disrupt SAR efforts.

Access to site closed off

11.00am: According to Google Maps, the road leading to Father's Organic Farm from both ends at Batang Kali and Genting Highlands, respectively, has been closed to traffic.

The site is located along Jalan Batang Kali - Genting Highlands. The Works Department said that motorists can use the Batang Kali - Ulu Yam Batu Caves - Gombak - Karak Highway as the alternative route to get to Genting Highlands.

Nga to hold press conference at 12.30pm

10.50am: Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming is scheduled to hold a press conference at the site at 12.30pm.

Apart from him, the other ministers who are expected to visit the site are Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

8 fatalities so far - Nadma

9.40am: Nadma reports that as of 9.15am, eight deaths and seven injuries have been reported in the incident.

Another 53 people have been found safe at the site and search and rescue operations are still ongoing, said the agency.

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