Two deaths were reported in the Cameron Highlands landslide tragedy

Malaysia – It has been reported that the deaths of two individuals who were trapped by a landslide at Kilometre 35 along the Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands have been confirmed by the police.

They were identified as Muhammad Hafiz Hamdi, 31, from Tanjung Piandang in Kerian, who was driving a truck carrying vegetables, and Tan Chee Heng, 36, who was driving a multipurpose vehicle (MPV) from Klang, Selangor.

According to Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, the Perak police chief, the search and rescue team was successful in retrieving the two bodies after approximately 10 hours of effort.

A Toyota Alphard had been discovered where the first corpse was found. It belonged to Tan.” He was taken out at about 9.30 p.m.

During a news conference, he said that the second victim was Muhammad Hafiz, whose corpse was recovered from the lorry around 10.50pm.

He said that both individuals had been transferred to the Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun for a post mortem to be performed.

Furthermore, Mior said that the authorities would continue the rescue effort in order to ascertain whether or not there were any further casualties trapped in the landslide.

He said that the decision was reached after extensive consultation with firefighters, representatives from the Public Works Department, members of the Civil Defense Force, and the district officer.

He went on to say that the trackers dogs from the K9 Unit are also being utilized in the search and rescue effort by the police.

It was suspected that the landslide began at 1.30 p.m. as a result of erosion induced by heavy rain that continued throughout the day.

The debris from the landslide blocked around a 100-metre section of road, preventing traffic from passing on either side. Initially, the police had urged motorists to use the route from Tapah to Cameron Highlands instead of the Simpang Pulai road, which was temporarily blocked.