Batang Kali landslide: Campers endure close shave, pet dogs and friend still missing

KLANG: Toni Wong, 40, thought for a moment that her life was about to end in a rubble of soil, trees and debris when she was caught smack in the centre of the Batang Kali landslide.

“I looked out of our tent window and saw mud and soil crashing towards us and felt it was the end for me, my friend and our three dogs,’’ said Wong, who was sharing the tent with her friend, Katherine Poh, 36.

With them were their dogs – Wong’s schnauzer-cross Sherlock and Poh’s poodles Bernice and Ben.

“When the soil and trees came crashing down, I cowered in the tent, but luckily we were pulled out by some people who had escaped from neighbouring tents,’’ said Wong.

Both the women and their dogs had gone camping at the Father’s Organic Farm in Kampung Kuantan, Batang Kali, together with another friend Eric Ng and his three dogs.

Sadly, said Wong, the tent where Eric and his three dogs - Scooby, Tartis and Neeps - were staying was buried deep in the rubble and there was no sign of the man or his pets.

She added after she and Poh were dragged out by other campers, the group made their way downhill while deciding which direction to take as visibility was poor, given that it was pitch dark.

“We found a small clearing and grouped there, discussing what to do next when we heard a second rubble, and more soil and trees came crashing down,’’ said Wong, adding that Sherlock, Bernice and Ben were still with them at that point.

When the second slide occurred, said Wong, everyone panicked and ran including Sherlock and Bernice.

Ben, however, stuck close to Poh and is currently safe with his owner.

“People who were ahead of us said they saw Bernice run into the forest and towards a waterfall we had visited a day earlier.

“Some others also told us they had seen a grey dog, resembling Sherlock returning to the place and barking incessantly,’’ said Wong.

Wong said she and Poh were desperate to rescue both Sherlock and Bernice and would be returning to the site tomorrow with the hope the rescue teams there will help them find both dogs.

She added that Sherlock was a friendly dog and will probably approach people when he comes out of hiding.

She also hoped that somehow, miraculously, Ng and his dogs had also managed to get out of the landslide.

Wong had adopted Sherlock from canine welfare project Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB), that had rescued him and another puppy 10 years ago, after both were left to die outside a pet shop in Klang because they were infected with distemper.

Wong urged those who may see Sherlock and Bernice to grab them and call 018-784 4112, 017-208 1844 or 012-250 1497.