28 families evacuated after landslide in Kemensah Heights

A total of 19 double-storey terrace houses and 28 families were affected by a landslide along Jalan Kemensah Heights in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Norazam Khamis said they received a distress call at 9.33pm and arrived at the scene 11 minutes later to begin rescue operations.

The firefighters were able to evacuate all of the victims.

“No injuries were reported,” he said when contacted.

Meanwhile, Ampang Jaya police chief ACP Muhammad Farouk Eshak said the victims were housed at two halls in Ampang.

He said the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council had provided the locations as a temporary shelter.

“If they do not want to move to the places provided, they have the choice of putting up in the homes of relatives.

“So far, the fire and rescue department is monitoring the landslide location for further earth movements,” he said.

One of the victims, Muhd Zulfaqar Jamaludin, 20, said he was shocked to hear a loud crash followed by tremors.

“After that, I rushed out to see what had happened behind my house and found several trees had fallen followed a landslide.

“I quickly took my parents safely out of the house,” he said.

Nurhafizah Zolkifli, 28, said she felt a strong tremor and saw tree branches crashing into the windows at the back of the house at 9.30pm.

“My parents immediately called the fire and rescue department and I grabbed my child to safety.

“I also saw several houses falling from the slope,” she said.