SMART Returns After Nine-day Search And Rescue Mission

SUBANG, Feb 28 (Bernama) - The Malaysian search and rescue contingent returned home Monday after a nine-day exhaustive search for victims of the massive landslide which swallowed villagers in Southern Leyte, Philippines.

The 65-member Malaysian contingent comprising the Special Malaysian Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), the Fire and Rescue Services Department, paramedics from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, were greeted on arrival by the Philippines Ambassador to the country Victoriano Lecaros at the Subang Air Force base.

The tragedy, which occurred on Feb 18 triggered by rain, had todate killed more than 200 people while more bodies were pulled out of the mud, which had washed down a mountain slope.

"None of the rescue teams that went there were successful in finding a survivor. All we found were corpses," said Zulhisham Abdul Jamil, who headed the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) members to the landslide rescue mission.

He said intermittent and heavy rain coupled with waist-deep mud hampered rescue efforts.

Lecaros commended the Malaysian team saying that their rescue efforts had brought the people of the Philippines and Malaysia "much closer".

Meanwhile, SMART section commander C/Insp Mohd Sahar Yunus said the threat of secondary landslides and underground water movements were the greatest stumbling block during the operation.

He said that the Malaysian team were the first to arrive at the landslide-hit Guinsaugon village and were the best-equipped for the operation.

However, mission deputy head Supt Abdul Aziz said weather and ground conditions sometimes interfered with the function of equipments.

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SMART Returns After Nine-day Search And Rescue Mission

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