A landslide at a camping site near Batang Kali, on the road to Genting Highlands, has claimed the lives of 21 people so far. (local government development ministry pic)
BATANG KALI: The massive landslide at a popular campsite near here today was the 23rd major incident reported in the country this year, and the worst so far: the death toll reached 21 this evening, with 12 still missing.
Rescuers pulled out 61 people throughout the day.
The landslide occurred at three campsites of Farmer’s Organic Farm, near the Batang Kali-Genting Highlands road. It affected an area of over 500 metres long, 200 metres wide and eight metres deep. About 450,000 sq metres of earth was displaced, Bernama reported.
Rescuers are continuing to work through the night in rainy weather brought on by the north-east monsoon. The effort involves firefighters from Kuala Kubu Bharu, Rawang, Genting Highlands, Sentosa, Ampang, Pandan, Kota Anggerik, Kajang and Andalas fire and rescue stations.
K9 tracker dogs, personnel from the special tactical operations and rescue team as well as emergency medical rescue services were also engaged in the search.
Camping grounds closed
The government has ordered an immediate seven-day closure of all camping sites located along rivers, waterfalls and hillsides.
Roads closed
Police have closed Route B66, the road from Batang Kali to Genting Highlands and motorists have been advised to use the alternative route to Genting Highlands via Jalan Hulu Yam-Batu Caves.
Resorts World Genting has advised guests to use the Karak Highway and the Genting Sempah route.
Teachers among victims
Several teachers were among the holidaymakers at the campsite. The parent-teacher association of Mun Choong primary school in Kampung Batu, Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, said about 20 teachers of the school and their family members had camped there as well.
The association’s head, U Chin Ong, told reporters at Hulu Yam Bharu police station, that some of the teachers had been rescued and some had come to the police station to give statements.
The Hulu Yam village chief, Nabil Salehat said it was the first time that such a major landslide had occurred in the area. “A landslide occurred in Serendah in 2016, but it was not as bad as this,” he added.
The 23 landslides this year
This list of landslides across the country this year was compiled by Bernama.
JAN 1
Seven landslide incidents – six in Selangor and one in Negeri Sembilan – were reported on the first day of 2022.
JAN 2
Thirteen routes in five districts in Negeri Sembilan were closed to all traffic following landslides and floods.
FEB 14
Thirty-one people from nine families of staff from the Tongod police station in Sabah were evacuated as a safety measure following a landslide near the station.
MARCH 2
The Sultan Mahmud Power Station in Kenyir, near Hulu Terengganu, was temporarily shut down since Feb 27 after the high voltage transmission tower, which supplies electricity to the national grid, collapsed due to a landslide.
MARCH 8
Three landslide incidents were reported following flash floods in the capital city. Two areas involved were road reserves at 1/27 Taman Gembira and Jalan Hang Tuah 4, Salak Selatan, Selangor, whereas another area was at Section 6, Wangsa Maju involving private land.
MARCH 10
Four were killed and one injured in a landslide incident at Taman Bukit Permai 2, Ampang, Selangor. In addition, 15 houses were destroyed and 10 vehicles were affected.
APRIL 10
Incessant heavy rain over several days resulted in floods in several villages in the Tuaran district, Sabah, while five houses were affected by a landslide at the Telipok settlement scheme.
MAY 15
Two women died in a landslide and water surge incident while hiking up the Gunung Suku Permanent Forest Reserve on Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
JUNE 14
A landslide occurred at Jalan Tun Dr Ismail, Taman Bukit Sentosa, Kuala Lumpur, following several hours of continuous heavy rain, affecting a Tenaga Nasional substation there.
JULY 24
A sewage worker was injured after being trapped for about four hours in a landslide while doing septic tank repair work at Kota Tinggi science secondary school in Johor.
JULY 28
Two children were killed, while two adults were injured after their house in Taman Elok, Jalan Bukit Nenas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, was hit by a landslide.
AUG 29
Six homes in Rumah Rakyat Batang Benar in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, collapsed and suffered cracks as a result of soil settling due to heavy rain.
NOV 1
Six men were trapped in a landslide near the Tenom Pangi Dam, Sabah.
NOV 15
A family of three were jolted out of bed when their bungalow at Taman Halaman in Ampang, Selangor, was hit by a landslide, causing part of the back wall to collapse.
NOV 16
Several Orang Asli houses in Kg Kerawat, Simpang Pulai, Perak, were partially buried in a landslide but no casualties were reported.
NOV 17
Landslides and fallen trees on Jalan Mantin Batu 8 caused Jalan Mantin-Seremban in Negeri Sembilan to be temporarily closed in both directions for cleaning works and tree cutting.
Some 25 people from five families in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Raya were stranded after a landslide and fallen trees cut off road links to the village.
NOV 26
A man was killed in a landslide at Blue Valley in Kampung Raya, Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
DEC 2
A landslide following continuous rain damaged the front of a terrace house at Taman Sri Anggerik in Rantau, Seremban.
DEC 9
Six people narrowly escaped a landslide incident in Taman Halaman, Ampang, Selangor. Their house was also damaged.
DEC 10
The occupants of three houses in Taman Halaman, Ampang, Selangor, were ordered to evacuate due to expected soil movements following continuous heavy rain in their landslide-hit location.
DEC 16
A total of 94 people were involved in a landslide near the campsite at Father’s Organic Farm, near Gohtong Jaya, Pahang. Police confirmed 21 deaths, with 12 missing as at 7pm.
