ID :
34281
Sat, 12/06/2008 - 20:18
Auther :

POLICE INSTRUCT APARTMENT RESIDENTS IN BUKIT ANTARABANGSA TO EVACUATE

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The police have instructed between 3,000 and 5,000 residents living in apartments and condominiums in the vicinity of the
landslide in the Bukit Antarabangsa area in Hulu Klang, to evacuate.

Bukit Antarabangsa is a famous hillside township in Ulu Klang, a popular
residential area, in sSelangor, Malaysia. It is dubbed the Beverly Hills of
Malaysia because many famous Malaysian celebrities and artistes live
here.


Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said the Malaysian Armed
Forces' engineering team are currently creating a pedestrian walk-way for the
residents to move out from the area.

However, Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, who visited the
scene, said there were residents who still refused to leave their homes.


"We urge the people living nearby to move out because it is reported that
earth movement continues to take place," he said adding that the Selangor state
government had prepared temporary settlements for the residents.

The landslide, which occurred at about 4am Saturday, had cut off access via
the main road to the residential areas at Bukit Antarabangsa, trapping hundreds
of residents.

Those trapped and the rescue team had to use Jalan Wangsa 9 as an
alternative route as the main road to the area could not be used.

So far, police have confirmed that three people were killed in the incident
which buried 14 bungalows in Taman Bukit Mewah and Taman Bukit Utama.

Musa said the landslide had also caused the river in the area to overflow
when it was filled with tonnes of earth.

The police and army are currently trying to divert the river to a
new
route.

Meanwhile, five lorries were seen entering the area to transport the sand
dug from the river.

The movement of evacuees to the relief centre at the UA2 community hall was
rather chaotic especially when heavy rain started to pour in the area.

-- BERNAMA



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