Landslide in Paya Terubong kills 73-year-old doctor

A landslide in Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong, Penang, resulted in the death of 73-year-old Dr. Wong Kar Lin. The victim was trapped in the kitchen area of his two-story terrace house after the landslide struck the rear of the property. Emergency services from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) conducted a search and rescue operation, successfully recovering the body at approximately 11:20 a.m. following confirmation of death by the Ministry of Health.

Two other occupants of the house, the victim's 68-year-old wife and 86-year-old mother, managed to escape the building without injury. Heavy rain reported since the previous night is believed to have destabilized the hillside, triggering the collapse.

Environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has criticized the Penang government, stating that residents and environmentalists had previously warned about the risks of hillside development and extensive hill cutting in the area. In response to the incident, the Penang Island City Council has ordered a nearby condominium construction project to halt work while investigations into the cause of the landslide continue.