A worker seen clearing debris at the collapsed retaining wall site in Jalan Sepadu 7, Taman United, Kuala Lumpur. — LEONG WAI YEE/The Star
ALL Block C residents at the Taman United flats should leave and not wait until the situation worsens, says Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
“I would like to remind residents of Block C, who are at high risk, to vacate their homes immediately,” she said.
The area is on high alert after a retaining wall behind the flats in Kuala Lumpur collapsed on Monday after hours of heavy rain the night before.
Residents from 104 units were subsequently ordered to vacate until further notice by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to allow for repairs on the wall and slope.
However, checks by StarMetro yesterday found that a handful of units at Block C were still occupied.
Kok, who visited the site, assured affected homeowners that her office would be working with the Social Welfare Department to provide necessary assistance.
She also thanked authorities and a nearby temple for responding swiftly to the incident.
An evacuation centre was opened at Sri Petaling Community Centre to house affected homeowners.
The continuous downpour expected in the coming days is keeping other flat residents on edge.
Some said they had begun gathering personal documents and essentials in case the situation worsened and they were asked to leave.
Block B resident Mohd Shafiq Soho, 34, said he had stored food and infant formula within easy reach inside his unit.
“In an emergency, I can quickly grab everything and leave.
“I want to be prepared in case the slope behind Block B fails too as the rainy days continue,” said the father of two.
Another Block B resident who only wanted to be known as Chong, 63, said he and his wife would be moving out soon.
“We might head to a relative’s house somewhere nearby.
“We are not taking any chances,” he said, adding that he and his wife had started loading their belongings into their vehicle.
DBKL, in a statement, on Wednesday, said a consultant had been appointed to carry out a geotechnical assessment on the slope.
It added that repair works were slated to commence within four days, depending on weather conditions.
Cleaning works to remove debris and boulders at the site in Jalan Sepadu 7 were underway, noted DBKL.
Selangor and Federal Territories Minerals and Geosciences Department director Rusli Mohamed pointed to rainwater accumulation behind the retaining wall as a possible cause for the incident.
He said pressure from the water, combined with weight of the trees there, caused the wall to fracture.
