KUALA LUMPUR: A major landslide struck a slope at the grounds of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy (MACA) in Bukit Tunku here today, causing a guard post at the academy to collapse.
No one was injured in the 1.45pm incident at Persiaran Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, which occurred near the entrance of the MACA.
Seventy six people, comprising 36 men and 40 women who occupied the two buildings at the academy at the time were evacuated pending further soil and building assessment.
A Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said it was alerted to the landslide by a distress call at 1.45pm before a team of eight firemen led by Senior Operations Commander E. Yogeswaran were despatched to the scene.
He said the people in both buildings were evacuated temporarily pending soil evaluation by the Public Works Department and City Hall.
"Both authorities are assessing the situation at the scene before it can be declared safe.
"The area of the landslide was estimated to be 100x120 sq m, and it is adjacent to the MACA and Integrity office buildings.
"A total of 76 victims (36 men and 40 women), all were safely moved to a safe place. Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) have been notified to conduct further investigation and assessment," he said.
"Both authorities are already at the scene assessing the situation," he said.
Initial checks by the authorities showed that the two main buildings, and another building housing staff quarters were not affected.
Yogeswaran said when firemen arrived at the place, they saw the security post had collapsed.
It is learnt that there is a small stream or pipeline underneath the soil. The rescuers at the scene also reported that the soil was still not stable due to movements.
When contacted, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki
said preliminary checks showed that only the MACA Guard Post was affected in the landslide.
"However, I have asked the PWD, Fire and Rescue Department and Kuala Lumpur City Hall for advice on safety," he said when confirming the incident.
MACC is expected to issue a statement on the incident, as soon as they have the updates from the authorities.