CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The search and rescue operation to locate another three victims who were buried under the landslide at Batu 59, Kampung Raja here would continue until 10pm today.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Azri Ramli said the decision was jointly made by all authorities and agencies who were involved in the operation but it would all depend on the weather.
"Through our discussion with all agencies involved, as of 4pm today, we have decided that the search and rescue operation will be continued until 10pm but it depends on the weather.
"This decision was made after we saw the weather this evening had improved and our special units, Smart (Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team) and Storm (Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team) have good lighting equipment," he said.
Azri in a press conference near the scene added that as of now, heavy machinery were not able to enter the landslide scene due to the soft soil structure, narrow road and steepness.
"Initial investigation found that three of the victims were members of a family, including a married couple and the husband's father. The first body we discovered was the husband of the married couple," he said.
When asked whether the foreigners had their travel documents, Azri said that authorities so far found four United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards.
Asked if the vegetable farm was legal, Azri said that he had to leave that question to Cameron Highlands District and Land Office to answer.
He also added that a member from the Malaysian Civil Defense Force sustained injuries during the operation.
Asked if there was still soil movement detected at the scene, he said that there was none so far.
Meanwhile, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director (operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said that 84 personnel from various agencies and 30 farmers were at the scene to assist in the operation.
"No heavy vehicles can enter the scene and rescuers need to walk up there and they have to dig the soil manually using hoes and shovels.
"The problem here is that when the landslide happened, it swept away all the trees up on the farm. That is what makes it a little difficult to locate other victims who are still buried there," he said.
Earlier, in the incident at 2.51am, two men were confirmed dead, while three others are feared to have been buried alive.
The Cameron Highlands District Disaster Management Committee confirmed that all five victims are Myanmar nationals aged between 25 and 56.
The body of a male Myanmar national has been pulled out from the site of a landslide incident in Blue Valley here at 11.05am and has been identified as Haphey, 36.
The second male victim of the landslide incident was found at 12.05pm and his identity is yet to be known.