Retired M'sia doctor, 73, dies after being buried alive in landslide after heavy rain in Penang

Heavy rain in Penang Island on the night of Oct. 24 buried 73-year-old Wong Kar Lin in a landslide the next morning.

The Penang Fire and Rescue Department responded to a distress call at 8:36am and a rescue team arrived at the scene just two minutes later, reported The Star.

Wong was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:10am.

According to The New Straits Times (NST), Wong's body was extricated around 11.21am.

Landslide

Heavy rain had caused flash floods in many parts of Penang on Oct. 24.

The next morning, a landslide occurred in Taman Seri Rambai, Penang.

According to China Press, Wong, a retired doctor, had reportedly been preparing breakfast when it happened.

He was buried in the landslide.

Two other people in the house with him, his wife, Chang Mei Nuo, 68, and his mother, Wong Poh Lim, 86, managed to escape unharmed.

Poh Lim told NST that she had been showering on the second floor and was alerted by Chang about the landslide.

They rushed downstairs to escape, and realised Wong had been crushed by concrete in the kitchen.

"We were shocked and immediately ran out to save ourselves. Everything happened so quickly," she was quoted as saying.

They then reported the incident to the authorities.

Investigation

Penang Island Mayor Duke Rajandran reportedly visited the construction site on the hillside and other nearby residences, offering condolences, according to China Press.

A stop-work order had been issued to the developer of the project on top of the mountain, a road construction project that has been ongoing for over a year.

Rajandran also said that the land office would arrange accommodations for the affected residents, and the city council will launch an investigation into the landslide.

Residents of five nearby houses were advised to evacuate temporarily.