BATANG KALI: Rescue workers scoured through rubble and mud on Saturday in search of a dozen people believed to be buried in a Malaysian landslide that killed 21 others, including five children.

Authorities said 94 people were sleeping at an unlicensed campground on an organic farm early Friday when dirt rained down from a road about 30 meters (100 feet) above the site, covering about 1 hectare (3 acres). The majority were families taking advantage of the year-end school break.

A total of 21 bodies have been recovered, with five children and 12 women among them. Rescuers discovered a mother and her toddler daughter hugging each other in a heartbreaking scene.

Seven people were hospitalized, and dozens more were rescued unharmed, including three Singaporeans. The search at the farm in central Selangor state was halted overnight due to rain and resumed early Saturday for the remaining 12 people.

An estimated 450,000 cubic meters of debris — enough to fill 180 Olympic-sized swimming pools — hit the campsite. Excavators were deployed and some worked with rescue dogs to sniff out possible signs of life and cadavers. Officials are unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the landslide but believed it could be due to underground water movement while the soil was unstable.

Survivors told local media that they heard a thunderous noise and felt the earth move before the soil collapsed on their tents. The government has ordered that all campsites near rivers, waterfalls, and hillsides be closed for a week to assess their safety.

The campsite in Batang Kali, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur, is a popular recreational site for locals, who pitch tents or rent them from the farm. However, authorities claim it has been operating illegally for the past two years. It is permitted to operate the farm but does not have a license to conduct camping activities. If convicted, the operator could face up to three years in prison and a fine.