A woman was reported to have died and two others injured in a landslide at the Orang Asli settlement in Sungai Ruil, Cameron Highlands today.      

A spokesman at the Cameron Highlands police headquarters in Tanah Rata said five houses were affected in the incident which had happened at 5.45pm.     

"The injured, a man and a woman, were rushed to the Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom Hospital in Tanah Rata," he said when contacted by Bernama from KL.    

He said search and rescue operations manned by police, Fire and Rescue and Civil Defence Department personnel were ongoing.  

More feared trapped    

Meanwhile at least six to 10 victims are feared still trapped in the landslide, said MP for Cameron Highlands SK Devamany.     

Devamany, who is also deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said he had been on the scene since 8.25pm and that an 80-member strong search and rescue (SAR) team, including members from the Police's canine unit, was involved in the SAR operation.      

"The situation is quite bad. It is a huge landslide. The SAR team has to dig in the mud slowly using spades and hoes," he told Bernama when contacted from here tonight.     

He added that he was being given updates on the situation every 30 minutes by the village's head and the SAR team commander.    

The settlement, located about 5km from Tanah Rata town, had 145 houses with a population of 1,300 people, he said.    

Devamany said the landslide happened at 5.45pm following a heavy rain.    

Houses buried

Three houses were also reported to be buried in mud in the landslide.   

A spokesman of the operations room of the Brinchang district police, contacted by Bernama tonight, said two other houses nearby were slightly damaged.    

He said that it had yet to be determined whether the landslide was due to rain.     

As of 10.55pm, the woman who died in the landslide had yet to be identified although the two who were badly injured, a man and a woman, were confirmed to be from the settlement.    

The search and rescue operations by the police, firemen and civil defence department personnel were continuing.     

- Bernama