GEORGE TOWN: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for the remaining five victims who are feared buried in the landslide at Jalan Bukit Kukus, Paya Terubong near here will continue after the Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG) gives the green light, said Penang Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) director Saadon Moktar.
He said inspection was being conducted by JMG to detect any earth movement in the area before it could allow the SAR team to continue its operation today for the remaining victims.
"We hope the weather today is fine so that we can continue the operation at the third sector where the five victims are believed to be buried,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.
He said about 100 personnel from various agencies, including FRD, the SMART team, police and the Civil Defence Force, were on standby to continue with the SAR operation, now on its third day.
The five people still missing are an Indonesian, identified as Subairi, and four Bangladeshi nationals – Mithu Hossain, 30, Mohamad Abd Jalil, 31, Ujal, 33, and Rahat, 25.
Tle landslide, which was reported to have occurred at 1.56 pm last Friday, has killed four foreign workers and injured three others, with five people still missing and feared to have buried alive.
The tragedy occurred after heavy rain in the state from Thursday afternoon until noon the following day, causing the landslide at the container and kongsi area at the Bukit Kukus paired road construction site.
Two bodies were recovered on Friday, that of Indonesian national Samsul Asman, 19, and Bangadesh worker Attrul, 35, while the bodies of Myanmar woman Khin Aye Khaing, 33, and Indonesian Bahtiar, 36, were recovered yesterday at 1.30 am and 11.55 am, respectively.
Yesterday, the atmosphere at the Penang Hospital Forensic Medicine Department turned sombre when the wife of a victim could not control her feelings when she saw her husband's body.
Wa Iri, 36, who is pregnant with her second child arrived at the Forensic room in pink T-shirt and track pants still covered with mud, was said to have fainted when she identified the body of Bahtiar.
Earlier the four-month pregnant woman was treated at the Penang Hospital after her legs were injured during the landslide but she was allowed to leave the ward at noon.
Indonesian consulate-general consular affairs officer Neni Kurniati said the woman was still in shock as she was hoping that her husband would survive.
"Bahtiar's wife was found in a different container from her husband ... her legs were injured but the baby is safe," said Neni Kurniati.
Wa Iri, who was seen wailing and screaming several times, had to be calmed by family members before she could identify the body.
Neni Kurniati said Wa Iri would not be accompanying her husband's body home to Indonesia due to her unstable condition. -- BERNAMA