At least 10 people are believed to be buried alive in a major landslide to hit Penang this morning and a rescue operation is underway.
Updated: As of Sunday noon, seven bodies have been found, with four remained buried. The Fire Department has confirmed that the actual number of victims is 11.
Two dead bodies were pulled out of the debris at around 10am and 10.45am, about an hour after the incident.
The victims are believed to be construction workers except for one fresh graduate from TAR College.
In the 8.57am incident, a 10-metre high hill slope came crashing down on a housing construction site next to the Tenby International School in Lengkok Lembah Permai.
Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu revealed that a local graduate working at the construction site was likely buried in the landslide, FMT reported.
He said according to a briefing by one of the rescue workers, most of the victims were likely buried at least “10 to 15 feet” under mud and rubble. He said natural boulders from the hill had also come hurtling down during the landslide.
“One local supervisor who is a fresh graduate from TAR College is working there,” Teh was quoted as saying.
Bangladeshi national Mohd Bulumulah Mohd Atelmullah, 47, was seen seated on a pathway in tears worried about his nephew Nuralla Altapussh, 35, who is believed to be buried in the landslide, The Star reported.
“I do not know what to do. He came to work at 8am and this took place a 8.30am. I think he might be no more,” he was quoted as saying.
Another Bangladeshi Mohd Awal Jafra Alma,21, said a friend alerted him that his younger brother Abdul Rahman, 18, was buried in the landslide.
“I hope he is okay but my friends told me he died. If he has passed away, I want to take his remains back to Bangladesh as my parents are ill and hospitalised there,” he was quoted as saying.