24 People Have Died In A Landslide At A Campground In Malaysia; Nine Still Missing

On Saturday, December 17, 2022, rescue workers hunting for survivors after a landslide ripped through a campground in Malaysia uncovered the remains of a mother and two children, bringing the death toll to 24.

The unlicensed campground at Batang Kali, a popular mountainous spot about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur, was destroyed by a landslide early on Friday, December 16, 2022.

Friday morning, authorities said that 94 people were resting at a camping on an organic farm when around 3 acres of earth fell from a road approximately 100 feet above them. The majority were families on a brief vacation at the end-of-year school break.

Given the weight of the muck on the scene, state fire and rescue commander Norazam Khamis said it was unlikely that further survivors would be recovered.

Saturday, teams of 135 rescue workers equipped with helmets, shovels, and other tools combed through rubble as deep as 26 feet. Excavators were sent to remove muck and fallen trees, while 7 rescue dogs were dispatched to search for signs of life and bodies. The campground was pummeled with over 16 million cubic feet of debris, enough to fill 180 swimming pools of Olympic size, according to officials.

Norazam said that rescuers were walking cautiously since subsurface water streams may cause more landslides.