Batang Kali landslide: Family of victims urged to come forward to identify bodies

HULU SELANGOR: Family members of the landslide victims have been urged to come forward to identify the identities of the 21 bodies recovered from the scene of a landslide that took place on early on Friday (Dec 16) morning.

Hulu Selangor OCPD Supt Suffian Abdullah said none of the bodies had any identification documents on them, making the process to identify difficult.

"We urge those with missing family members to come forward and identify them at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.

"The family members may also lodge a police report," he said in a press conference on Saturday (Dec 17).

ALSO READ: ‘Victims yet to be identified’

A total of 135 officers have been deployed at the site, together with the help of the K9 Unit.

The SAR efforts were split into three zones - Sector A Hill View, Sector B, Farm View, and Sector C Riverside, with focus now given to Sector A and Sector B.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced a RM10,000 aid for the next-of-kin of the deceased and RM1,000 for other victims.

Earlier, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department chief Datuk Norazam Khamis said the possibility of finding the 12 missing survivors involved in the landslide incident here was slim.

ALSO READ: Batang Kali landslide: Search and rescue ops resumes for 12 remaining victims

He said this was based on the authorities' rough projections.

"We are already on our second day and if they are trapped underneath, they might not have oxygen," he said, adding that some of the survivors were found trapped between five to ten feet underground.

"Some of them were seen dragged by the soil movement and their hands and legs dismembered," he said.

The SAR efforts were split into three zones - Sector A Hill View, Sector B, Farm View, and Sector C Riverside, with focus now given to Sector A and Sector B.