Victims asleep when disaster hit

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Five Myanmar nationals aged between 25 and 56, said to be family and friends, were asleep when they were buried alive in a landslide at a vegetable farm here.

The disaster caused the two houses the farm workers were staying in to be buried some 2m deep, in Batu 59, Kampung Raja.

According to the police, three of them are believed to be family members including a married couple and the husband’s father. The two others are said to be friends.

Four United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards were found at the site.

Cameron Highlands OCPD Deputy Supt Azri Ramli said the bodies of two of the men had been recovered while efforts were ongoing to locate the others.

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The five, including a woman, have been identified as Haphey, 36, Shing Law Har, 56, Thang Moong, 25, Shing Aung, 39, and Om Myue, 38.

However, DSP Azri said the identities of the two found could not be released pending further information.

He said the bodies had been sent to the Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom Hospital here for a post-mortem.

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The five, he said, were believed to be staying in the houses, with the one closest to the scene about 50m away.

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“They were probably asleep when the incident occurred in the wee hours,” he said of the tragedy that happened at about 2.40am yesterday.

DSP Azri said the search efforts were hampered by poor weather.

“It had been raining most of the day and towards the evening, the weather improved,” he added.

The operation was later suspended at 7pm.

The first body was recovered at 5.40am while the second was found at 12.40pm.

ALSO READ: Cameron Highlands landslide: Body of second victim found

DSP Azri said apart from the weather, the narrow and slippery roads and minor landslides occurring had made it impossible for heavy machinery to get to the site.

When asked if the farm was operating legally, he said he needed to verify that information with the Forestry Department.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said there were 84 personnel from various agencies at the site as he spoke.

In total, there were 217 personnel stationed at the department’s control post.

“Thus rescue work is being carried out manually.

“There are also the K9 (Dog Detection Unit) tracker dogs at the scene.

“Then there are workers from other farms assisting in the search and rescue mission,” he added.

ALOS READ: Cameron Highlands landslide: Body of first victim recovered, area still unsafe

Earlier, Ismail said the department received a distress call at 2.51am about the landslide that had occurred at a height of 80m from the hill.

“The soil had covered the houses some 2m deep,” he said.

The Public Works Department (JKR) also helped in carrying out clean-up work at the entrance of the landslide-hit area to facilitate the search operation, Bernama reported.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said even though the route and location of the incident were not under the supervision of JKR, the department would continue to monitor the situation and be ready to provide whatever assistance needed.

“I would like to advise all parties to be careful and obey the instructions of the authorities for their safety,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

Cameron Highlands MP Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor and Tanah Rata assemblyman Ho Chi Yang also visited the site.