Five killed, 10 missing after landslide hits Malaysia orphanage

Five killed, 10 missing after landslide hits Malaysia orphanage

2011-05-21 20:59:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

KUALA LUMPUR (BNO NEWS) -- At least five children were killed and 10 others were buried on Saturday when two landslides hit an orphanage in the Malaysian state of Selangor, officials said.

According to the Malaysia Star, the orphanage in Hulu Langat, a district in the southeast part of Selangor, was partially buried by the landslides at about 2.30 p.m. The state's police chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said firemen and villagers have managed to pull out nine children alive so far.

"Two landslides occurred simultaneously. All the victims did not have time to escape," he said at a press conference.

He said all those affected were 20 students attending a motivational camp at the orphanage and four caretakers. A total of 49 students and caretakers were there, but 25 escaped unhurt.

The Malaysian national news agency, Bernama, reported that the dead children were aged between 11 and 14. The young survivors, who were rushed to the hospital, were aged between 11 and 17.

Rescue operations were ongoing despite the heavy rain.

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