Serendah landslide: 10 days to repair damaged road

Hulu Selangor police chief Supt R. Supramaniam said based on initial report by the Public Works Department (PWD), there was still groundwater flowing in the affected area.

"PWD will be using alternative roads as temporary routes. The contractor is still carrying out works to cover the landslide with canvas to avoid further landslides.

"For the time being, the affected area has been categorised as a red zone and all 340 residents from 64 families have been ordered to vacate their houses," the operation commander at the landslide location told reporters here.

He said the landslide had caused the formation of a huge hole, measuring 10 to 15 metres deep and over 600 metres in radius.

He said PWD would submit a full report on the landslide in about three days.

Meanwhile, the Hulu Selangor District Council will evacuate residents who were being accommodated at Sekolah Rendah Agama Serendah to another location if further landslide occurred in the area.

"So far, 22 of the 64 families involved have yet to register with the Welfare Department," said Supramaniam.

In the incident, a resident Muhammad Fareez Hanudin, 21, who was returning home on his motorcycle was injured on the hand and leg, while a foodstall and 10 cars were destroyed, in the landslide.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported, Wanita UMNO Caring Squad will provide counselling and motivation to boost the spirits of residents affected by the landslide incident.

"We sympathise with the plight of the victims. Nevertheless, we're grateful as the incident did not claim any lives," Skuad Sayang Malaysia assistant commissioner Datuk Rosni Sohar told a press conference today.

Rosni, who is also UMNO Supreme Council member, said the squad would provide food for the victims who had been evacuated to the Sekolah Rendah Agama Serendah.

"We intend to hold 'gotong-royong' and tonight, we will provide packed food for them," she said, adding that 20 members of the squad would be stationed at the evacuation centre.

Batang Kali assemblyman Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan urged all residents affected by the landslide to register with the Welfare Department.

"We don't want (cases where) missing reports had been lodged but they (the victims) are actually not registered and staying at their relatives' houses.

"We're also asking them not to continue living in their respective homes as the area is still not safe," he said.

A check by Bernama revealed that repair works had been intensified.