Residents barred from returning home pending structural safety assessment

KUALA LUMPUR: Residents of Block D, Damai Perdana Apartments in Cheras here, have yet to be allowed to return home pending a structural safety assessment following a slope collapse near the building.

Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) Zone 6 councillor Tan Kah Hoe said the Public Works Department (PWD) Forensic Unit was at the site yesterday to assess the condition of the building's structure.

He said the local authority was awaiting the assessment report, which would also help determine the cause of the incident and whether the building was safe for occupation.

"There is no decision yet on the cause of the incident.

"We are waiting for the assessment report to determine whether the building is safe to occupy," he said today.

Kah Hoe said the number of families housed at the temporary relief centre at Dewan Orang Ramai Desa Baiduri had increased to 15 as of yesterday, from four previously.

He said all the affected families were residents of the block.

"Registration is also being carried out to identify the needs of the affected families.

"For now, accommodation and food for the affected residents are being managed by the Social Welfare Department (JKM).

"Police are also assisting with security at the affected homes to ensure the area remains safe," he said.

About 80 residents from 45 units at Block D were earlier ordered to evacuate as a precaution after a slope collapsed near the building on Tuesday night.

The incident involved a slope measuring about 4.57 metres in height. An initial inspection by the Fire and Rescue Department found that water was still flowing in the area, but no casualties were reported.

The Mineral and Geoscience Department is also investigating claims that a leaking pipe may have been linked to the collapse, while the structural safety assessment is being carried out with the relevant technical agencies.