Batang Kali landslide: Sweeper teams combing riverside area as SAR op enters fifth day
HULU SELANGOR: Two sweeper teams consisting of 28 Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Force personnel have been formed to search for missing victims in the vicinity of ground zero of the Batang Kali landslide.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Hafisham Mohd Noor said the teams will search a 3km to 4km stretch from the disaster site at Father’s Organic Farm here down to Sungai Kedondong.
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“The sweeper teams will determine if any of the missing victims were swept away from the landslide site.
“As of now, we haven’t found any sign of the victims yet,” he told the reporters on Tuesday (Dec 20) morning.
Hafisham also said the search and rescue (SAR) operation for the day will involve all available manpower, sniffer dogs from K-9 units, and excavators.
“The operation today will also focus on (the riverside sector) and (surroundings),” he added.
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The 3ha campsite area has been divided into four sectors for the SAR mission: hill view, farm view, riverside and greenhouse.
The SAR operation went into its fifth day at 8am with 115 personnel from various agencies involved, as well as 11 vehicles and two sniffer dogs.
“As for the SAR operation yesterday (Monday, Dec 19), we (did not) receive any positive development,” he said.
Suffian also appealed to those whose family members were missing to come forward and lodge reports at the nearest police station.
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“We have special teams at hospitals, the control centre at the site here and the Hulu Selangor police headquarters.
“The teams will help any affected family members,” he said.
As of 11am Tuesday, 24 bodies have been recovered since the Dec 16 disaster while 61 survivors were rescued.
Nine people are still missing.