PETALING JAYA: Major reinforcement work has commenced to prevent further soil movement at the site of a landslide that occurred in a residential area in Taman Wawasan, Puchong, on Saturday.
Serdang police chief ACP AA Anbalagan, who held a press conference at the site yesterday, said the slope where the landslide occurred was being reinforced with steel piles. He said the size of the sinkhole is about 50m by 60m with a depth of 3m.
“Mitigation work began as early as 4am. According to the contractor tasked to carry out the work, it will take about two weeks to complete the job.
“An area of 150m will be reinforced with 335 steel piles which will be driven into the ground to prevent soil movement.
“Canvas sheets have also been placed on the slope to avoid further retention of rainwater,” he said.
ACP Anbalagan said officers from the Mineral and Geoscience Department and the Subang Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had also inspected the affected area and will carry out evaluations from time to time.
Asked if preliminary findings revealed the cause of the landslide, Anbalagan said, “I cannot specifically say what caused it but we are waiting for reports from the relevant authorities.
“Many areas in the district were hit by flash floods following heavy rain. The Puchong IOI Mall had 65 cars and 71 shops affected by flood waters.”
ACP Anbalagan said the district office and MBSJ had prepared a relief centre at a hall for evacuees to take shelter.
However, he said only one family of eight members were at the centre while the remaining eight families went to stay with their relatives.
He said police would be on duty round the clock to maintain security in the area.
He added that to ensure their safety was not compromised, evacuated residents who wished to go to their houses to pick up items should seek prior permission from police personnel on duty.
