Holiday Turns Tragic For More Than 20 Teachers & Their Families Camping At Batang Kali
The group was camping in Gohtong Jaya when the area was hit by a massive landslide this morning, 16 December.
By Sadho Ram — 16 Dec 2022, 03:15 PM
More than 20 teachers from SJKC Mun Choong in Kuala Lumpur and their family members are among the dozens of victims of a landslide at an organic farm in Batang Kali this morning, 16 December
According to its parent-teacher association president U Chin Ong, the teachers had been camping at the hilltop since Wednesday for a three-day trip with their families, reported New Straits Times.
"There are about two to four teachers who are currently at this refuge centre at the Hulu Yam Bharu police station. Some are being treated at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) for minor injuries. I am also waiting for more information as there are still more being rescued and identified," he was quoted as saying.
Kuala Lumpur Hospital personnel assisting the injured at the site.
Image via Mohamad Shahril Badri Saali/New Straits TimesThe campsite, where the teachers were staying, was initially not affected by the landslide, which happened on the opposite side
Ong said the teachers and their family had been camped near the Father's Organic Farm.
"They should have returned to their homes this morning. The teachers involved are on vacation at the farm because they felt the area was safe and flat. There are two camps in the area," he added.
Ong said that he bought some milk for the babies and children of the teachers.
"There was a female teacher with her baby, both crying while being treated. Luckily they were only slightly injured," he said, adding that aid was being provided by HKL to the survivours.
Meanwhile, one of the victims, while describing the horror, said that they were awakened by a loud bang that "sounded like an explosion"
"We were asleep when it happened. We felt the earth move and the soil came down. It was very dark [...] We never expected a landslide to occur considering it was not raining heavily a few days ago, just some drizzles. My family and I were trapped as soil covered our tent," the victim, Leong Jim Meng, said.
"We managed to escape to a car park area and heard a second landslide happening. I called the authorities and they came after 30 minutes, which I think was quite fast," New Straits Times quoted Leong as saying.
Some of the survivors of the landslide at Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Batang Kali.
Image via Mohamad Shahril Badri Saali/New Straits Times