Two Bangladeshis killed after landslide hits their living quarters

The interior of the collapsed building.

KAJANG: Two Bangladeshi workers were buried alive when a landslide hit their living quarters in Hulu Langat early Saturday.

They were part of the Langat 2 water treatment plant construction crew who were staying at a renovated farmhouse that had been converted into living quarters for the workers.

Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Othman Nayan said police received a call at around 4am of a landslide in Kg Sungai Serai and a search and rescue team was dispatched to the scene.

"Early investigations showed that the landowner had renovated an existing farmhouse and rented it out to workers of the Langat 2 project," he said.

He said 11 Bangladeshis and nine Indonesian workers were staying at the renovated building.

ACP Othman said continuous rain over the past few days could have triggered the landslide. The search for other victims is continuing with the help of the Kajang Fire and Rescue Department.

The case has been classified as sudden death and police have yet to reveal the identities of the victims.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Mohd Sani Harul said the landslide caused two rooms at the workers' quarters to cave in.

"The victims were pulled out by their colleagues before the fire engines arrived," Mohd Sani said.

He said the incident occurred at around 2am but the department was only notified at 4am.

"We have directed firemen in the area to be on standby for such disasters especially with current weather conditions," he said.