Malaysian landslide buries orphanage children

  • 5-22-2011

Landslides have hit an orphanage near the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, killing 16 people, all but one of them children, officials say.

Rescuers saved nine people from the Hidayah Madrasah al-Taqwa orphanage in the district of Hulu Langat.

The rescue operation, which was hampered by rain, has now ended.

Rescuers used bulldozers, spades and their bare hands to try to reach survivors, and floodlights were brought in after night fell.

A total of 20 children and five adult carers were taking part in an event in a tent at the orphanage - which is located on a slope - when it was hit by two landslides, within seconds of each other, on Saturday afternoon.

District police chief Abdul Rashid Wahab said the bodies of 15 boys, aged between eight and 18 had been recovered. A 34-year-old caretaker at the orphanage was also killed.

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Reproduced under licence from BBC News © 2011 BBC


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