Residents evacuated after landslide near apartment in Cheras

KUALA LUMPUR: Residents living near a slope at an apartment complex in Bandar Damai Perdana, Cheras, were ordered to evacuate tonight after a landslide occurred close to the building.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Ashrul Riezal Asbar said the department received an emergency call at 9.03pm regarding the incident near Block D of the Damai Perdana Apartment.

He said five firefighters from the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene eight minutes later.

"The landslide is believed to have been caused by an underground water leak.

"Water was still flowing at the affected area, although our personnel did not detect any further soil movement," he said.

Ashrul said the affected slope was about 4.57m high, while the distance between the slipped earth and the affected area was about 0.91m.

"As a precautionary measure, the operations commander instructed residents living nearby, particularly those in Block A, to evacuate their homes.

"We are continuing to monitor the condition of the soil and the water flow. No casualties have been reported so far," he said.

He said the Public Works Department had also been notified of the incident.

Photographs taken at the scene showed a large section of the grass-covered slope below the apartment building had given way, exposing the earth along the embankment.

Displaced soil could be seen piled at the foot of the slope, while part of a chain-link fence appeared to have been damaged.

Residents were seen gathering outside their apartment units and along the perimeter of the building as firefighters inspected the affected slope.

A Fire and Rescue Department vehicle was also stationed on the road below as personnel continued monitoring the area late tonight.