Human bone remains, clothing, and the debris of an excavator were discovered yesterday at the site where two quarry workers were reportedly buried in an incident in March at Keramat Pulai, Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands, Perak.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Azmi Osman said a search and rescue team found the excavator with the help of the Department of Minerals and Geosciences at 11:45 am while the clothes and skeletal remains were discovered around half an hour later.
“We have yet to determine to whom they belong,” he told Bernama.
Itam Lasoh, 43, and Kheow Loo Siew Soon, 49, were two quarry workers thought to be buried beneath rock debris in the March 8 incident.
On March 8, JBPM received a distress call at about 9:40 am, and a team was deployed to the scene.
When the team arrived at the location, the quarry manager said four people including two Orang Asli were involved in the rockfall. JBPM said according to an early report by the operations commander, two victims managed to escape (with injuries). However, another two victims are suspected to be buried in the rumble.
Even though the two victims had not yet been located, the inquiry into the case was labelled as sudden death (SDR), according to former Perak Police Chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid.
The search attempts were still going on when Bernama checked the incident site.
Meanwhile, Perak Police chief Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the skeleton remains of a human that was discovered earlier today have since been transferred to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital’s Forensics Department for post-mortem.
He said a DNA test would also be conducted to identify the identity of the victim.
Mohd Yusri said the search and rescue operation is being led by Ipoh Police chief ACP Yahaya Hassan, with the cooperation of the Perak Fire and Rescue Department, as well as the Minerals and Geosciences Department.
