“I was informed that the campsites are located on flat land that is frequented by campers,” said SJK(C) Mun Choong PTA president U Chin Ong.

He said about 20 teachers from the school and their families had been camping there the last three days and were supposed to return home at 10am today.

“I was also told that the incident happened at 2am after one of the victims heard a loud sound. The landslide occurred opposite their camping site,” said U when met at the Hulu Yam Bharu police station.

He said several campers from the school were rescued by others around the area.

The three campsites that were buried in the landslide were River Hilltop, Farmview, and River Side.

The death toll has risen to 16 as at 1pm, and while most of the 94 who were trapped have been rescued, 17 are still missing.

Hulu Yam village chief Nabil Salehat said it was the first time that such a major landslide had occurred in the area.

“The last time a landslide took place was in Serendah in 2016 but it was not as bad as this,” he said, adding that the area was more prone to flash floods.