Genting Highlands landslide: Body of 26th victim found hugging his dog

BATANG KALI — A pitiful sight greeted members of the search and rescue (SAR) team retrieving the body of the 26th victim of the Father's Organic Farm landslide on Wednesday (Dec 21).

The body, that of a man, was found hugging his dog.

Rescuers had dug 4m into the ground at Sector B of the search area before finding the remains at 11.19am.

Hulu Selangor police chief Superintendent Suffian Abdullah said that the victim was initially camped at Sector A, but was brought down to his current position by the landslide.

"We believe that there were three dogs with him. We have found two so far," he said.

The man's age and race has yet to be determined.

His body was taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital while the dogs' remains were handed over to the Veterinary Department.

Meanwhile, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division assistant director Hafisham Mohd Noor said there could be one more victim located at Sector A.

"We are unsure of how many are still in Sector C as there were many campers there (when the landslide occurred).

"But the leads are getting better and we hope to find the remaining victims," he said.

As of press time, it has begun to rain heavily, which has sparked concern among rescuers over possible soil movement. NEW STRAITS TIMES