Landslide claims lives of five family members in Malaysia’s Kota Kinabalu
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The victims, comprising 11 people, three adults and eight children, were all in a makeshift wooden house when the landslide struck on Sept 15.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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KOTA KINABALU - Half of a family has perished after being buried by a landslide in Kampung Cendera Kasih in eastern Malaysia’s Sabah.
The victims, comprising 11 people, three adults and eight children, were all in a makeshift wooden house when the landslide struck on Sept 15.
The landslide brought the house and its occupants down with it.
Kota Kinabalu OCPD Asst Comm Kasim Muda said based on initial information, four people managed to be dug out by rescuers and villagers.
One of the survivors suffered a broken leg.
The first death was recorded when an adult woman was found around noon.
Four others, who were children aged between two and nine, were found at around 2.30pm.
He said this leaves two more victims, a child and a woman, still yet to be found.
Mr Kasim said a total of 76 rescuers, including firemen, police, Civil Defence Force officials and health officials were involved in the search and rescue operations.
“Operations will continue until the remaining victims are found, hopefully by this evening if the weather permits,” he said at the scene.
Residents there will also be required to vacate the area over concerns of more landslides, he said.
Asked if the victims were citizens, Mr Kasim said they believed them to be immigrants but their identities would have to be verified later.
Earlier in the incident, villagers had come together with rescuers to dig out the buried victims.
They used their hands, shovels, hoes and other tools to try and get the victims out.
Meanwhile at a separate location in Kampung Unggun Jaya Sepanggar Kota Kinabalu, a landslide was also recorded but no casualties were reported. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
