Sunday, May 22, 2011

Killer landslide hits Hulu Langat orphanage

From The Star Online :

KAJANG: A landslide hit an orphanage Saturday afternoon killing 13 and leaving three still buried.

Firemen and villagers managed to pull out nine soon after the landslide hit Rumah Anak Yatim Hidayah, Madrasah Al-Takwa, Jalan Felcra Semungkus, 14th mile, Hulu Langat, near Kajang at 2.30pm.

At 10.45pm, a boy was pulled out alive after being buried for over eight hours.

Rescuers rushing one of the injured children to the ward at Ampang Hospital

The dead and alive have been sent to the Ampang and Kajang Hospitals.

"Two landslides occurred simultaneously. All the victims did not have time to escape," said Selangor CPO Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah at a press conference at 6.45pm.

A total of 49 students and caretakers were there but 24 escaped unhurt.

The back portion of the orphanage where the landslide occurred

The orphanage was partially buried by the landslides at about 2.30pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Deputy IGP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said that rescuers were being hampered by wet soil and rain.

He also appealed to the crowd of onlookers to stay back and allow the rescuers to do their work unimpeded.

Bernama reported that in ALOR GAJAH, Malacca, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalildirected the Social Welfare Department and the 'Skuad Sayang' (Caring Squad) to provide immediate assistance to the orphans and family of the victims.

"I will get in touch with the police to obtain detailed information and the actual cause of the landslide so that my ministry can take follow-up action to assist the victms," she said.

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For the first time in a very long time I am speechless. I feel sick to be part of a society/system that allows development of an orphanage on a hill-side which is susceptible to land-slides. MARK MY WORDS : THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POINT FOR US TO HAVE THE LONGEST, LARGEST, BIGGEST, TALLEST..... BUILDING, BRIDGE OR WHATEVER IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT THE LIVES INNOCENT CHILDREN, ORPHAN CHILDREN AT RISK...... ALL OF OUR PROGRESS..... DEVELOPMENT...... SUCCESSES COUNT FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.....

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