The Perak fire and rescue department said three other men were rescued.

Firefighters sent to the scene at 5pm rescued the three men trapped in a sand pump while the fourth man was completely buried and confirmed dead at the scene.

“According to witnesses, two workers saw the soil around the excavation area begin to collapse and fall into a 3m-deep drain they were digging,” a statement said.

Three victims, aged between 28 and 38, were rescued at about 6.30pm after being buried up to chest level. They were injured. The body of the fourth victim, a 26-year-old man, was recovered at 8pm.