I would like to offer my heartfelt condolence to the families of the victims of Hulu Langat Landslide. Be strong and may Allah bless their souls and place them amongst His believers. Al-fatihah.
Orphanage landslide death toll now 16
UPDATED @ 01:54:05 PM 22-05-2011
May 22, 2011
Search and rescue personnel deploy a tracker dog in their efforts to find trapped victims. — Picture by Choo Choy MayKUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — Sixteen people are now believed to have been killed in yesterday’s deadly landslide at the Al-Taqwa orphanage in Hulu Langat, after four more lifeless bodies were uncovered by rescuers this morning.
The orphanage was nearly buried in a landslide yesterday afternoon and authorities have been scrambling to save victims trapped underneath the rubble and mud. The nine remaining survivors have been rescued.
The names of the dead victims and their age are as follows: Mohd Kamarul Amizan, 11; Nurahimi Rosdi, 14; Dzahir Haziq M. Muin, 11; Ahmad Lokman Hakim, 11; Farid Ibrahim, 34; Mohd Azrel Azahari, 8; Wan Ahmad Hasril Hazim, 19; Zahid Assawal Zamri, 19; Mohd Mustakim Mamat, 12; Mohd Naerzein M. Nor, 8; Mohd Aiman Abdullah, 10; Shahrul Nurimran Adnan, 9; Mohd Zaim Azahawi, 14; Mohd Imal Fahad, 9; Mohd Riezman Ab Latif, 9; and Mohd Hazim Sapri, 10.
Eight of the nine survivors — Aizat Khusuiri, 12; Allaudin Sobri, 14; M. Syatiq Ibrahim, 21; Khairul Anuar Nasri, 9; M. Harris Izuddin Sharul, 11; Zulkhairi Aminuddin; Izzuddin Abdullah; and Izuan Zakaria, 33 — are being treated at Hospital Ampang.
The ninth, 10-year-old Mohd Akmal Mohd Jefri, is receiving care at KPJ Kajang Specialist Centre.
Twenty-five people were trapped following the landslide yesterday and all have either been rescued or recovered.Kajang OCPD Ab Rashid Wahab said there were 49 residents at the orphanage yesterday, 24 of whom escaped injuries.
“Twenty-four were inside the house. They were inside washing the plates and cleaning up (when the landslide hit),” Rashid told The Malaysian Insider today.
“The landslide hit the tent outside. They were just having their lunch,” he said.
Rashid said rescuers had to dig through rubble and debris 14 feet high from 2.15pm yesterday until they recovered the last body at 5.05am today.
The policeman noted that one warden had died while three wardens survived the landslide that struck the 15-year-old orphanage for boys.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Wira Chor Chee Heung said the orphanage had not applied for building plans from the local council as it was built on farming land.
“It was never within the jurisdiction of the local council. This is an old development that took place 15 years ago,” Chor told reporters under a makeshift tent near the site today.
“Now we’re hoping that those living on farming land... although there... is no requirement to apply from the local council, we encourage them (to do so),” he added.
Selangor housing and local government committee chief Ronnie Liu noted that the orphanage was built near a hill slope of 80 degrees.
Chor said hill slope development guidelines, which were drafted in 2006, stated that buildings could not be built near hill slopes of 70 degrees or above.
“If there are plans to build a house near the foot of the hill, they have to follow conditions. There must be engineering solutions,” said Chor, giving an example of retaining walls that are built to hold back ground which would otherwise move downwards.
“We will wait for a detailed investigation from JKR (Public Works Department),” he added, when asked if action would be taken against the orphanage owner.
Liu said the Selangor government would encourage those who intended to construct buildings on farming land to apply for building plans from the respective local councils.
“But it’s not compulsory,” admitted the Selangor state executive councillor.
The orphanage is linked to the town area of Batu 14 Hulu Langat through narrow muddy roads.
Seven bodies will be buried in the Dusun Nanding Muslim Cemetery here this afternoon.
The other nine have been taken by their family members for burial in their respective hometowns.
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