SEARCH and rescue operations for the landslide in Tanjung Bungah has been suspended and to be resumed tomorrow morning.

So far, three Bangladeshis were identified by the police and fire and rescue department as the three victims that perished from the landslide.

“Search and rescue operations will be suspended tonight due to nightfall and other safety reasons.

“The rescue operations will continue tomorrow morning at 8am,” said Saadon Moktar, the Penang state fire and rescue department director.

He also said that police and other law enforcement personnel will continue to patrol the area to deter the public from entering the area as it is still considered dangerous.

“The police will still patrol the area with other agencies 24 hours to avoid the public from entering.

The search and rescue team consists the police (25), fire department (30), civil defense department (26), Penang hospital (15), Penang Island City Council (9), Rela (20), NGOs (5) people which totaled to 130.

“So far the search and rescue dogs haven’t gotten anything… we are getting nearer to the victims, hopefully tomorrow we can recover more, we have already cleared 20% to 30% of the debris,” Saadon said.

The nationalities of the 14 buried are, 1 Chinese, 1 Pakistani, 1 Indonesian, 1 Rohingya and 9 Bangladeshis. – October 21, 2017.