ALOR STAR: The operation to recover the remains of two victims buried under the debris of a landslide at a limestone quarry in Keramat Pulai, Ipoh, had to be carried out cautiously due to serious hazards at the site.
Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said his men faced challenges due to soil movements triggered by incessant rain at the location in Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands.
"The area is reported to be unstable due to soil movement, coupled by the presence of large boulders at the site which were hazardous to the rescuers.
"Despite having to endure the challenges due to unpredictable weather the operation to retrieve the remains continues," he told reporters after opening the state level northeast monsoon season preparation briefing session at the Alor Star fire station today.
Hamdan added that the operation involved the Special Tactical and Rescue Team (Storm) and the Multi-Skill Team (Must) from the Perak Fire and Rescue Department, with the assistance of the K-9 Unit.
It was reported today that rescuers have recovered the remains of the second victim buried under the debris of a landslide at the limestone quarry.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant Muhamad Shahrizal Aris said the skeletal remains were discovered at noon yesterday, near the location of the second excavator.
However, removing the remains had to be stopped following heavy rain at 12.45pm.
The first skeletal remains were found yesterday by the quarry company workers, firemen and police.
In the March 8 landslide incident, two men identified as Itam Bah Lasoh, 43, and Kheow Loo Siew Soon, 49, were buried under the debris.
