At least 16 people have died in a landslide in Malaysia. 17 more were initially still missing, as reported by the local civil protection.

A campsite in Batang Kali, about 50 kilometers north of the capital Kuala Lumpur, was hit by the landslide during the night. Police say a five-year-old child is among the dead.

More than 60 people were initially saved, as the authority further announced on Twitter. Her injuries ranged from minor abrasions to serious spinal injuries, Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa said. More than 400 helpers searched for the missing. There was initially no official information on the nationalities of the victims.

Unhappiness could have several causes

According to the authorities, the operators of the campsite did not have the necessary license. The landslide happened not far from the tourist-popular Genting Highlands, a holiday region known, among other things, for its peak resorts.

It was initially unclear what triggered the landslide in the wooded, hilly area. There had been heavy rainfall in Malaysia in the past few days. However, eyewitnesses reported that it had recently only drizzled slightly in the affected region. According to information from the Bernama news agency, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wanted to travel to the scene of the accident on Friday.