THE search and rescue team will dig deeper to locate the remaining victims after the 25th victim was found buried under 17m of debris in Sector C (Riverside) last night at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite, Gohtong Jaya.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Hafisham Mohd Noor said more victims could be buried under the mud.

“We have already dug and combed through the exact spot. Apparently the victims could be buried much deeper in the ground.

“As such, today we will most likely dig deeper into the mud and hope to find the other victims,” he told a press conference.

Hafisham said the search and rescue today involving 106 officers from various agencies will be carefully executed, taking into account the soft ground conditions in the affected area.

“The search will be conducted over Sector C (Riverside), Sector A (Hillview) and Sector B (Farmview) but we will focus more on Sector C.

“We will also limit the number of personnel allowed into the area because of the wet, muddy ground conditions, which had caused the excavators to get stuck in deep clay. 

“Our team had to cut down trees and place them on the ground surface to continue excavating,” he said.

Asked if the search would still continue if the missing victims are not found after a certain period of time, Hafisham said the matter would be discussed with all parties involved, including the police.

He said the standard operating procedure to locate missing persons will usually last seven days.

The landslide, which occurred at 2.42am last Friday, has so far claimed 26 lives while seven victims are still missing. It was reported that 94 people were involved in the tragedy.

Search and rescue for the remaining victims resumed at 8am today after it was suspended late last night. – Bernama, December 21, 2022.