Batang Kali Landslide: Identification of 30 victims completed

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 – The identification of the 30 fatal victims recovered from the landslide along the Batang Kali-Genting Highland on Dec 18 has been completed, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) said.

Twelve of the victims were children, while only one man was aged above 60. The other victims were all below 45 years of age.

Releasing their names on Friday evening, Nadma said the process of identifying the victims’ bodies was carried out by the Sungai Buloh Hospital’s Forensics Department, which has also returned their bodies to the respective families.

The victims were identified via four combined methods, namely their DNA, finger prints, dental evidence and identification of personal items or unique bodily feature by family member.

The list of the victims were prepared by staff of the Health Ministry’s National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre.

Today, the search and rescue operations for a final victim was stopped at 11pm and is expected to resume tomorrow. It will be the ninth day of the SAR operation. Nadma said it will be posting updates regularly on any development related to the victims of the tragic event.

On Thursday, four more bodies were found, bringing the death toll to 30 from the tragic incident. At the latest count, police said a total of 92 people were affected by the landslide that took place at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite. Three dogs were also reported to have died in the landslide.

A total of 61 were rescued. The search continues for a final victim.

–WE