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Batang Kali (Malaysia), Dec. 16 (AP) — Thunderous mud and debris crushed a campsite in Malaysia on Friday, killing 21 people as rescuers dug through mud overnight to search for 12 more who may have died. People buried in landslides.
More than 90 people were sleeping on the organic farm when dirt rolled down the road about 30 meters (100 feet) above the site and covered about 1 hectare (3 acres). Two of them were found locked in an embrace, according to the state fire chief.
Authorities told local media that the landowner did not have a license to operate the campsite. At least seven people were hospitalized and dozens more were rescued without injury, regional police chief Sofian Abdullah said.
Leong Jim Meng told the New Straits Times English-language daily that he and his family were awakened by a loud noise at the Batang Kali camp, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of the capital Kuala Lumpur, and felt the earth move.
“My family and I were covered in mud in our tent. We managed to escape to a parking lot and then heard the sound of a second landslide,” the 57-year-old said. He said he was surprised because there was no heavy rain these days, only light rain.
It is currently the monsoon rainy season in Malaysia, and the country’s government development minister Nga Kor Ming said that all campsites near rivers, waterfalls and hillsides across the country will be closed for a week to assess their safety.
The Selangor fire department posted photos of rescuers digging through soil and rubble with excavators and shovels. The rubble is believed to be 8 meters (26 feet) deep, officials said. More than 400 rescuers and tracking dogs will work through the night to find the dozen or so people still missing.
The Free Malaysia Today news portal quoted Selangor state fire department chief Nora Chan Khamis as saying the two bodies found “embracing each other” were believed to be a mother and a daughter. The fire department said five children were among those killed.
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad told local media there was an estimated 450,000 cubic meters (nearly 16 million cubic feet) of debris – enough to fill 180 An Olympic-size swimming pool—hit the camp.
Regional police chief Sofian said the victims had entered the area on Wednesday, a popular recreational spot for locals who pitched or rented tents on farms. The camp is not far from the mountain resort of Genting Highlands, a popular tourist destination with theme parks and Malaysia’s only casino.
After touring the site late Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced a special payment to the families of the victims and survivors.
Nga told local media that the camp had been operating illegally for the past two years. He said the operator has government approval to operate an organic farm but does not have a permit for camping activities. If found guilty, camp operators could face up to three years in prison and a fine, Nga warned. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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