Batang Kali: Sniffer dogs and excavators dug through rubble and mud on Saturday in search of 12 people reportedly buried in a Malaysian landslide.

On Friday morning, when dirt fell from a road about 30 meters (100 feet) above the site, which covers about 1 hectare, 94 people were allegedly working on an organic farm (3 acres) without a license, officials said. The guys were sleeping in the campground. Most of the families were those taking an early break at the end of the year school break.

Altogether 21 bodies have been found, including 12 women and 5 children. Rescuers found a mother and her young daughter hugging each other in a heart-wrenching scene.

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Several people, including three Singaporeans, were rescued safely while seven people were taken to hospital. An overnight rain at a farm in central Selangor state briefly halted the search for the other 12 people. The search was resumed in the early hours of Saturday.

Rescuers wearing helmets and carrying shovels and other equipment (26 feet) searched through the rubble to a depth of eight metres. Excavators were used, some in conjunction with rescue dogs, to search for possible bodies and signs of life.

According to officials, the campsite was hit by an estimated 450,000 cubic meters (about 16 million cubic feet) of debris, which is enough to fill 180 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

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According to officials, the landowners lacked the necessary permits to operate the campground. Officials are unable to determine the exact cause of the landslide as it occurred suddenly, but they speculate that it may have been caused by underground water movement, while year-end monsoon rains destabilized the soil.

Survivors told local media that before the ground fell on their tent, they felt the ground shaking and heard a loud noise. All campgrounds near rivers, streams or hills should be closed for a week until the government evaluates their safety.

Locals often set up tents at the campsite at Batang Kali, about 50 kilometers (30 mi) north of Kuala Lumpur, or rent tents from the farm.

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But according to officials, it has been running illegally for the last two years. Although it has permission to manage the ranch, it is not authorized to conduct camping operations. If found guilty, the operator can be jailed for up to three years and fined.