GEORGE TOWN: Rescuers may have located the remaining two victims of Saturday’s landslide in Tanjung Bungah.
Digging works are being carried out to extricate the bodies, one of which is of the sole Malaysian victim – a site supervisor.
Today marks the third day of the search and rescue (SAR) operation since the construction site in Lengkok Lembah Permai here was struck by a landslide.
The SAR team has been working around-the-clock in search of the 11 victims and so far, nine bodies have been recovered, with four retrieved on the first day, and five yesterday.
Earlier on Sunday, the Fire and Rescue Department revised the number of victims from the initial 14 down to 11 after checks showed that three men managed to escape the avalanche of red earth, and were treated for injuries at the Penang Hospital.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has since described the incident as “a construction site accident.”
Last night, the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry revealed that the Department of Environment (DOE) had rejected an application by the developer of the affordable housing project for planning permission.
It said they received an application from Taman Sri Bunga Sdn Bhd on Jan 9, 2015 to build the apartment. After taking into account all the criteria, the DOE subsequently issued a letter of rejection on Jan 23 the same year.