Officials in Malaysia say an early Friday morning landslide has killed at least 18 people, including children. At least 17 people, authorities say, are missing at the unlicensed campsite at a farm in Selangor state bordering the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Rescue teams tell me the search site is difficult terrain…waist deep mud in some places and many rocks. They’re using an excavator and hand picks to try and chip away, desperately hoping to find more survivors.
The search and rescue teams have about 400 people. They’re also using drones and specially trained dogs.
Investigators say it’s not clear what triggered the landslide, which covers about an acre (a little more than a hectare) of land.
But authorities have told local media that the operator of the site did not have the proper license to be a camp site so criminal charges are possible
Schools are on vacation this time of year and it’s common for families to leave the cities and come up here to the mountains to enjoy the fresh air.
Rescue teams say two of the victims who died, their bodies were found hugging each other. They believe they might have been mother and daughter.
