Death Toll From Campground Reaches 24, Nine Missing

The landslide was contained inside the Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Malaysia’s Batang Kali region roughly 30 miles north of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, where nearly 100 people had been camping Friday morning.

135 rescue workers were scouring through compacted mud in search of missing campers as the rescue operation continued into Saturday night, local time, the Malaysian outlet The Star reported—although fire and rescue chief Norazam Khamis admitted the chance of finding more survivors was slim, Reuters reported.

In a statement posted on Instagram on Friday, the local fire and rescue service said a nearly-100-foot hill had collapsed in the landslide, affecting a three-acre area within the campground.

Local officials had initially reported 13 deaths, including three children, while 61 were reported to be in safe condition, including seven receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Speaking to local media outlet Berita Harian, one survivor said the landslide sounded “like thunder” while their tents became “unstable and soil was falling around us.”

On Friday, Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the federal government would provide the equivalent of $2,260 in assistance for the families of those killed, plus $260 in aid for the families of survivors, while in a statement on Saturday, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was working “swiftly to ensure all affected in the tragedy be given immediate assistance.”