Landslide causes retaining wall to collapse, security guard killed

KUALA LUMPUR: A security guard was buried alive under the rubble of a collapsed retaining wall after a landslide at Wisma YPR in Taman Seputeh here.

The body of the 69-year-old man, who was on duty at the guard post, was later found under the debris.

City Fire and Rescue Depart-ment was alerted of the incident at 12.54am yesterday.

Its operations commander Mohd Rizuan Razali said the first unit, which arrived at the scene around 1.05am, found a landslide had occurred and buried a security post.

He said the landslide covered an area measuring at least 6m by 12m.

A search and rescue mission for the victim was carried out immediately after they were informed that a guard had been buried under the soil, he said.

He added that rescuers, comprising members from the fire department, Malaysian Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team (Storm), police and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force found the victim’s body some 3m-deep under the rubble at 6.23am.

“Based on our checks, the landslide did not affect the structural integrity of the main building but the affected area has been cordoned off as a safety precaution until repair works are completed,” he said.

Mohd Rizuan said the guard’s remains were sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for a post-mortem.

According to Bernama, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the incident was believed to have occurred when the 6m-high retaining wall collapsed on a guard post.

“My sympathies and sincere condolences to the security guard’s family,” he added.

He said the landslide occurred at a privately owned premises under the purview of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

He said the incident was under the provisions of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133) as well as several related by-laws.

“On behalf of the Works Ministry, I wish to say that if requested, we’re ready to offer assistance in the ministry’s capacity,” he said in a Facebook post.