KUALA LUMPUR, December 16 – Malaysia’s fire department said that two people had died and 51 were still missing, three people injured, 23 had been found safe after a landslide struck a campsite near Genting Highlands in Selangor state early on Friday (Dec 16), with search efforts ongoing. In a statement, the national fire department said that as of 7am.

The landslide occurred at a campsite close to the road and near Father’s Organic Farm in Gohtong Jaya, news agency Bernama reported, later adding that a child was among the fatalities. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Norazam Khamis said firefighters began arriving at the scene at about 3am after receiving a distress call at 2.24am.

According to him, Kuala Kubu Bharu Fire and Rescue Station, BBP Rawang and BBP Genting Highlands have been rushed to the location. Reportedly, the incident happened on the side of the road near Father Organic Farm and crashed into a campsite that was close to the road. The height of the ruins is estimated to be 30 meters high with an estimated area of three acres,” he said in a statement on his official Facebook on Friday.

The search and rescue efforts are still being carried out by the fire department and assisted by other agencies such as the Voluntary Fire Association, the police, the Malaysian Civil Defense Force (APM), the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) and the SMART Team,” he said. Genting Highlands is a popular hill country area in Batang Kali district, north of the capital. The region is in its rainy season but no heavy rain or earthquakes were recorded overnight. 

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