2 killed in landslide near Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, more than 50 missing

Two people died and more than 50 are missing after a landslide struck a campsite in Malaysia early on Friday. Officials told Reuters that search and rescue personnel are on the site looking for survivors.

The landslide occurred at about 3 am local time (1900 GMT) in Selangor state, on the outskirts of the capital, Kuala Lumpur. A farmhouse providing camping facilities which was on the side of the road was destroyed by the landslide, according to a statement by the state fire and rescue department.

The department added that a total of 79 people were caught in the landslide and 23 were found safe. Further, in addition to the two dead, three were injured and 51 were still missing.

Norazam Khamis, the director of the department, told Reuters that the landslide fell from an estimated height of 30 metres (100 ft) above the campsite, and covered an area of about one acre (0.4 hectare).

The disaster struck just outside the Genting Highlands, a scenic hill country area in Batang Kali district, north of the capital that is popular for its resorts and natural beauty. Selangor has suffered landslides before, often attributed to forest and land clearance.

A year ago, about 21,000 people were displaced by flooding from torrential rain in seven states across the country.