By Danial Dzulkifly
PUCHONG, Dec 19 — Residents of the nine houses in Taman Wawasan, Puchong here that were affected by the recent landslide will know if it is safe for them to return home within the next few weeks.
Serdang District Police Chief ACP A.A. Anbalagan said the relevant land authorities will evaluate the safety of the units following the completion of piling works at the landslide site.
Efforts to install the iron piles, which is aimed to prevent further soil movements, is already underway and expected to continue for the next two weeks, he said in providing the latest update pertaining to the situation.
“After the piling works are completed, an assessment will be conducted on the affected areas,” he told the press during a visit to the site today.
“The land office will then declare whether it’s safe for residents to return.”
As of 5pm, Anbalagan said the assigned contractors have installed 74 out of an estimated 375 sheet pilings, covering a span of 150 meters in the landslide zone.
Further piling works may be done depending on further safety assessment, he added.
However, there has been no significant soil movement recently, while continuous safety evaluations are being conducted by the Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG), Anbalagan said in reassuring residents in the vicinity.
“There has been no major soil movement so far, but JMG is vigilantly monitoring the situation. Residents with further concerns are encouraged to approach us or their local representatives.”
The Selangor and Federal Territories JMG, in collaboration with the Subang Jaya City Council, Petaling District and Land Office, and police, are jointly monitoring the situation in the area.
Additionally, Anbalagan said local authorities are devising strategies to safely redirect water from nearby monsoon drains back to the river in the aftermath of the incident.
The landslide, which occurred at Jalan Wawasan 3/9 and Jalan Wawasan 3/14 about 7.30pm on Saturday, caused four vehicles to be buried, although no casualties were reported.
A total of 29 occupants of nine terraced houses in Taman Wawasan were directed to evacuate due to safety concerns following the disaster.
