KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty-four people are still buried alive when a landslide hit an orphanage in Kampung Gahal in Hulu Langat, near here today.
The victims were mostly orphans and staff of the Rumah Anak-anak Yatim dan Anak-anak Hidayah Madrasah Al-Taqwa in Jalan Sungai Semungkis which was struck by a landslide.
As at 6.30pm, nine orphans had been pulled out of the debris by a search and rescue team from the Fire and Rescue Department, police and the Civil Defence Department.
Selangor Police Chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said three of the victims, aged between 11 and 14, died at the scene and their remains had been sent to the Ampang Hospital for autopsy.
Six others, who were injured, aged between 11 and 17, were sent to Kajang Hospital for treatment.
“We learned that two landslides occurred simultaneously at the orphanage. All the victims did not have time to escape,” he said at a press conference at the orphanage for boys.
He said the body of the first victim was pulled out from the debris at about 4.30pm while the second body was retrieved at 5pm and the third at 6.10pm.
Bernama was made to understand that the landslide occurred at about 2.30pm when all the children at the home were in the multipurpose hall at the orphanage.
Meanwhile in Alor Gajah, Melaka, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil directed the Social Welfare Department and the ‘Skuad Sayang’ (Caring Squad) to provide immediate assistance to the orphans and family of the victims.
“I will get in touch with the police to obtain detailed information and the actual cause of the landslide so that my ministry can take follow-up action to assist the victims,” she said. – Bernama