Landslide hits orphanage, 13 dead

Relatives of the landslide victims arriving at Kajang Hospital. – Photo by Jack Ooi

KAJANG, May 21 — At least 13 people were killed when a landslide almost buried an orphanage in Hulu Langat near here this afternoon.

Firemen and villagers manage to rescue nine people alive while another three remain buried in the rubble as at 11pm. A boy was pulled out alive from the rubble at 10.45pm, eight hours after the landslide occured.

Initial reports said the landslide hit the Rumah Anak Yatim Al-Takwa orphanage in Jalan Felcra Semungkus, 14th mile Hulu Langat at about 2.30pm.

Forty-nine students and caretakers were said to be in the building when the landslide hit, but 24 escaped injury.

Rescuers were hampered by the wet soil that was still moving and rain.

As at 10pm, Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani reported from the scene that rescue workers continued to struggle in their effort to dig out the remaining victims.

The heavy rain finally stopped at 9pm, but the huge crowd of onlookers and the narrow road continued to hamper traffic in and out of the scene.

Ambulances are finding it hard to enter or exit the area because of the chaotic conditions.

Visiting politicians are also contributing to the chaos and hampering rescue operations.