GEORGE TOWN: An 86-year-old woman said she and her daughter barely rushed to safety after a fatal landslide struck their home in Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong on Sunday (Oct 25) morning.
Wong Poh Lim said she was showering upstairs when her daughter, Chang Mei Nuo, 68, alerted her to the incident.
Poh Lim said she and her daughter managed to escape to the ground floor, but her son-in-law, Wong Kar Lin, 73, was already trapped under the rubble.
ALSO READ: Paya Terubong landslide leaves one dead, two unhurt
“My daughter said there was a loud sound during the incident, but I didn't hear it because I was showering when the landslide happened.
“We were very shocked and immediately ran outside to save ourselves. Everything happened so fast,” she said when met at the scene.
Kar Lin, a doctor, was buried in the landslide which occurred at 8.36am. Firefighters only managed to recover his body at about 11.20am.
At the time of the incident, only Poh Lim, Chang, and Kar Lin were at the house, as the couple's four children live separately.
Poh Lim said the tragedy was deeply heartbreaking as her son-in-law had been part of their family for over 30 years.
ALSO READ: Stop-work order issued after fatal Paya Terubong landslide kills man, 73
Meanwhile, Chang, who still appeared distraught when met, said she was grateful that her husband's body was recovered intact.
She was earlier seen crying as her husband's body was brought out from the rubble in the kitchen area of the house.
Meanwhile, a neighbour who wished to be identified as Lim, in his 30s, said he was sleeping when he heard a loud crashing sound.
"I was sleeping when I heard a thunderous crash near my house. When I stepped out to check, I saw that a landslide had occurred (at the back of the neighbouring house),” he said.
Lim, who has lived in the area for over 30 years with his wife and parents, said that a similar incident was reported about 10 years ago at a small temple nearby.
He added that the repeated incidents left residents concerned about their safety, especially after the proposal for a 47-story building development in the area.
It was earlier reported that a stop-work order was issued for a condominium construction site and retaining wall project following the landslide.
Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said the cause of the landslide was still under investigation, including whether it was linked to a development on the hills behind the affected houses. – Bernama
