Bodies of three Sabah mudslide victims found

The rescue team members looking for the children underneath the debris

KOTA KINABALU: Three bodies, believed to be from a family whose house in Tongod was swept away in a mudslide on April 1, have been spotted by search and rescue teams on Tuesday.

One of the victim's bodies was seen floating near Kampong Mangkawagu and another two in Kampong Masaum.

Both locations are about 5km from their house in Kampong Alitang that was washed away in the 1am mudslide.

Eight people, including seven children, are reported missing.

A plantation worker in his 50s known as Abdul, who has Filipino refugee status, his wife, a local ethnic Sungai Jalikha Malingkut, 50, and their eight-year-old son survived the mudslide and are being treated at a hospital.

Their five sons and daughters and three grandchildren were reported missing after the news of the mudslide came to light only at about 10.30am on April 1.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Operations centre chief Khatizah Rahaban said rescuers from the various agencies were using boats to reach the three bodies.