16 Dec 2022 | 01:44 PM UTC
Malaysia: Response operations ongoing following landslide in Batang Kali, Selangor State, as of late Dec. 16 /update 1
Response operations ongoing following landslide in Batang Kali, Selangor State, Malaysia, as of early Dec. 16. Casualties reported.
Event
Response operations are ongoing in Batang Kali, Selangor State, as of late Dec. 16 following a landslide near Father's Organic Farm in Gohtong Jaya. The landslide occurred early Dec. 16 and hit a campsite where around 100 people were staying. Authorities have reported at least 19 fatalities, and at least 14 others remain missing as of 17:00 Dec. 16; the death toll is likely to continue to rise as search and rescue operations progress. More than 60 people have been rescued from the campsite, of which eight were hospitalized due to injuries.
Authorities have deployed more than 700 personnel to the incident site from various response agencies. Officials have stated that search and rescue operations are likely to continue through at least Dec. 17 but heavy rainfall may cause the operation to be postponed due to the threat of further ground movement on the site of the landslide. The area had received some light rainfall prior to the landslide, but it is unclear if this triggered the debris flow; landslides in the region are also often attributed to forest and land clearance. Meteo Malaysia has issued thunderstorm warnings for Hulu Selangor District through at least 22:00 Dec. 16, and storms could be accompanied by heavy downpours.
Further sustained heavy rainfall could trigger additional landslides on unstable slopes and flooding in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Sites located downstream from large reservoirs or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall.
Transport disruptions are likely to be ongoing for some time in the vicinity of the incident due to ongoing response operations and the prioritization of routes for emergency services.
Advice
Monitor local media for weather updates and related advisories. Confirm all transport reservations and business appointments before travel. Make allowances for localized travel delays and potential supply chain disruptions where flooding has been forecast. Do not drive on flooded roads. Charge battery-powered devices in the case of prolonged electricity outages.
