KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Dec 2008: About 15 cars parked between the CIMB and Amanah Raya buildings in Jalan Semantan here were buried under mud and rubble when a landslip occurred there at 5.15pm today.
However, there were no reports of any casualties, according to a police officer stationed there.
Heavy rain since 2pm is believed to have caused earth to loosen at a hill close to the buildings leading to mud and debris to come crashing down after a 15-metre retaining wall at it collapsed.
It is understood that some 300 workers in the two buildings were asked to evacuate immediately after the landslip happened, which also caused traffic snarls reaching up to three kilometres on either sides of Jalan Semantan.
Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Civil Defence Department and Police are at the scene to keep things under control.
Two bulldozers and other heavy equipment were seen clearing the debris and retrieving the trapped vehicles.
Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M Saravanan, when contacted, estimated the clearing work would take about four hours.
He said sniffer dogs were also being used to detect if there were any victims.
Initial estimate of losses was put at RM300,000, he added. — Bernama
