2008 Bukit Antarabangsa landslide

Last updated

2008 Bukit Antarabangsa landslide
Date6 December 2008;16 years ago (2008-12-06)
Time3:50 am MST
Location Bukit Antarabangsa, Ulu Klang, Selangor
Cause Landslide
Deaths4
Non-fatal injuries15
ConvictionsNone

The 2008 Bukit Antarabangsa landslide was a landslide that occurred on the early morning of 6 December 2008, at the town of Bukit Antarabangsa of Selangor, Malaysia. 4 people were killed while 15 others were injured from the incident. 14 houses were destroyed during the process. The landslide was colloquially referred with the Highland Towers collapse of 1993, due to its close proximity and similar circumstances. [1]

Contents

Background

Bukit Antarabangsa is a hillside township located at Ampang, Selangor. The township was known for housing numerous affluent celebrities and aristocrats of Malaysia. Prior to the 2008 landslide, the area was already known for being landslide-prone. In 1993, one of the towers of the Highland Towers, a gated apartment complex near Bukit Antarabangsa, collapsed after continuous rainfall eroded the soil under the foundations. 48 people were killed. [1] In 1999, a major landslide occurred at the hill, trapping thousands of inhabitants. [2]

Rescue efforts

The landslide began on 3.50 a.m. local time, at a hillside encompassing two communities, Taman Bukit Mewah and Taman Bukit Utama, on Bukit Antarabangsa. Electricity was cut off at several townships nearby. Roads leading to residential properties at the two hills were destroyed, trapping hundreds of people. [3] Soon after, search and rescue teams from several government agencies were launched to locate trapped victims on site. [4]

Accompanied by then Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, Sharafuddin, the Sultan of Selangor inspected the disaster site. The prime minister instructed the temporary halting of all construction projects surrounding Bukit Antarabangsa, until the land was declared safe by the Malaysian Institute of Public Works (IKRAM). [5] Among the survivors, 93 people escaped unscathed, while 15 were sent to nearby hospitals for immediate medical aid. Over 3 to 5-thousand inhabitants were forced to evacuate for fear of further landslides. They were housed in temporary shelters set up at nearby schools. However, Musa Hassan, the Inspected-General of Police, remarked that many residents were reluctant with the temporary eviction. [3] Four bodies were retrieved during the rescue operation. [6]

The subsequent day, members of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF or ATM) constructed temporary bridges across the affected areas to reconnect the local roads. [7] [8] On 8 December 2008, all rescue efforts were formally called off. Electricity was restored to 1,500 households. Several politicians visited the site and urged for a revision in hillside developments, [9] while the police notified all residents of Bukit Antarabangsa to lodge police reports in case of thefts or illegal break-ins. [10] [11] [12]

Investigation

On 25 November 2009, the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) drafted a letter requesting information of the landslide to not be classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972. The application was made after the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKM) handed over a technical report pertaining to the landslide to the MPAJ, which led to the public announcement of the report's outcome. The Bukit Antarabangsa Landslide Investigation Report was officially released publicly on 5 December 2009, after Shaziman Abu Mansor, Minister of Works granted permission to declassify the findings. The government refuted accusations of the classification over reasons around Internet circulation, citing that the classification was "to follow standard protocols". [13]

Lawsuits

On 8 September 2010, three families filed a suit in the high court at Kuala Lumpur against Superview Development Sdn Bhd, a local development company, and the Selangor Water Supply Company (SYABAS) for criminal negligence in relation to the landslides. Amanullah Mohamed Yusoof, Harveen Kaur Balbhir Singh and K Thanarajah filed the suit separately. They were seeking compensation of approximately RM1.5-million to RM2.2-million (US$ 357,000 to US$524,000). [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selangor</span> State in Malaysia

Selangor, also known by the Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south, and the Strait of Malacca to the west. Selangor surrounds the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, both of which were previously part of it. Selangor has diverse tropical rainforests and an equatorial climate. The state's mountain ranges belong to the Titiwangsa Mountains, which is part of the Tenasserim Hills that covers southern Myanmar, southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, with Mount Semangkok as the highest point in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Towers collapse</span> 1993 apartment building collapse in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

The Highland Towers collapse occurred on 11 December 1993 in Taman Hillview, Ulu Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. Tower Block 1 collapsed from a major landslide caused by heavy rains that burst diversion pipes. The Highland Towers consisted of three 12-storey buildings or "blocks". The collapse of Block 1 resulted in 48 deaths. Residents of the other two blocks and neighbouring establishments were evacuated due to safety concerns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 in Malaysia</span>

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 2002, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 in Malaysia</span>

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 2006, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulu Kelang</span> Mukim in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

Ulu Kelang, is a mukim and a state constituency in Gombak District, Selangor, Malaysia. It is one of five state constituencies administered by Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ).

Bukit Antarabangsa is a hillside township located in Ulu Klang, Ampang District, Selangor, Malaysia. The area is well known for being an affluent residential suburb occupied by occasional celebrities and political figures alike.

Taman Hillview is a township in Ulu Klang, Gombak District, Selangor, Malaysia. The township lies in a landslide-prone area. It is located next the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ampang Jaya</span> Town in Selangor, Malaysia

Ampang Jaya, more commonly known as just Ampang, is a town, a mukim and a parliamentary constituency straddling parts of the Hulu Langat District and Gombak District, in eastern Selangor, Malaysia. It is located just outside the eastern border of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory.

Jalan Ampang–Hulu Langat or Jalan Tasik Tambahan is a major road in Selangor, Malaysia. The road connects Taman Permai near Ampang in the west to Pekan Batu Empat Belas (Bt-14) Hulu Langat in the east. Its main features including a panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur from the top of Bukit Belacan hill.

Landslides in Malaysia are regular natural disasters in Malaysia which occur along hillsides and steep slopes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Pua</span> Malaysian politician and investor

Tony Pua Kiam Wee is a Malaysian politician and investor who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Damansara from May 2018 to November 2022, for Petaling Jaya Utara from March 2008 to May 2018 and Political Secretary to the Minister of Finance from May 2018 to February 2020. He is a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of presently the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and formerly Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalitions. He has also served as Policy Advisor to the Secretary-General of DAP since May 2022 and was National Publicity Secretary of DAP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff</span> Malaysian politician

Siti Zailah binti Mohd Yusoff is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rantau Panjang since March 2008. She served as the Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development for the second term in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Minister Rina Harun from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022 and the first term in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Minister Rina from March 2020 to the collapse of the PN administration in August 2021. She is a member and Women Chief of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a component party of the PN and formerly Gagasan Sejahtera (GS) as well as Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zulkiflee Anwar Haque</span> Malaysian political cartoonist

Zulkiflee bin SM Anwar Ulhaque, better known by his pen name Zunar, is a Malaysian political cartoonist. In 2015, he faced up to 43 years in prison for criticising the Malaysian government in a number of posts on Twitter and was charged under the Sedition Act 1948. The charges were dropped following the change in government at the 2018 Malaysian general election.

The 2011 Hulu Langat landslide was a landslide attributed to heavy rain that occurred on the afternoon of 21 May 2011, at Kampung Gahal in the district of Hulu Langat at Selangor, Malaysia. The landslide struck an orphanage nearby, killing 16 people, including 13 children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sungai Besi–Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway</span> Highway in Malaysia

The Sungai Besi–Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway (SUKE)Sungai Besi–Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway is a 24.4-kilometre (15.2-mile) three-laned, dual carriageway, controlled-access highway in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia. The expressway will run on top of the existing Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 between Sungai Besi and Ulu Klang, with the intent of reducing traffic along the road.

Rozali bin Ismail is a Malaysian businessman, founder, and Executive Chairman of Puncak Niaga Holdings. He also serves as the Executive Chairman of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (SYABAS), a water concession company that was nationalized by the state of Selangor in 2017. Additionally, he is the President of the Malay Business Association of Selangor (DPMMS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Selangor state election</span> 14th state election of Selangor, held on 9 May 2018

The 14th Selangor state election was held on 9 May 2018 to elect the State Assemblymen of the 14th Selangor State Legislative Assembly, the legislature of the Malaysian state of Selangor.

2020–2021 Malaysian floods is an event when several states in Malaysia were flooded in late 2020 and early 2021. Floods caused about tens of thousands of people to be evacuated to evacuation centers. The floods also claimed several lives, causing almost all types of land transport in the areas affected by the floods to be cut off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukit Dinding</span> A hill in Kuala Lumpur

Bukit Dinding is a forested hill with published height of 291m in Kuala Lumpur nestled in between Setiawangsa and Wangsa Maju. Officially recognized with a published height of 291 meters, data from the Kuala Lumpur Slope Information System (KULSIS) suggests a slightly higher elevation of 311 meters and 302 on Google Earth (2022).

A landslide occurred in the early hours of 16 December 2022 near the Malaysian town of Batang Kali, Selangor, displacing 450,000 m3 (16 million cu ft) of soil and burying campsites at an organic farm. The accident trapped 92 people under the collapsed slope; most were campers from the farm. 31 people were killed and 61 were rescued, with 8 people requiring hospitalisation.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ampang's Hill of Death". The Star. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  2. ↑ "The day the earth moved". The Star. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Tanah runtuh: 3,000 penduduk diarah berpindah". Malaysiakini.com. 6 December 2008. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  4. ↑ "Four Killed, One Still Feared Buried In Bukit Antarabangsa Landslide". Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia (BERNAMA). 6 December 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. ↑ "4 maut, tanah runtuh di Bkt Antarabangsa". Malaysiakini.com. 6 December 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  6. ↑ "Penduduk apartmen berhampiran tanah runtuh diarah berpindah". Utusan Malaysia Online. 6 December 2008. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  7. ↑ "ATM mula pasang jambatan taktikal empat lorong". Utusan Malaysia Online. 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  8. ↑ "Tragedi Bukit Antarabangsa: 4 terkorban, seorang masih hilang". HarakahDaily.Net. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ "PAS rakam takziah, desak batalkan pembangunan lereng bukit". HarakahDaily.Net. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Penduduk diminta buat laporan polis". Utusan Malaysia Online. 8 December 2008. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  11. ↑ "Bukit Antarabangsa: Operasi dihentikan,tiada lagi mangsa". HarakahDaily.Net. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. ↑ "Bukit Antarabangsa: Bukan mangsa tapi bangkai anjing". HarakahDaily.Net. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  13. ↑ "MPAJ Boleh Dedah Laporan Siasatan Tanah Runtuh Bukit Antarabangsa". 5 December 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  14. ↑ ""Tanah runtuh: Keluarga saman pemaju, SYABAS", Malaysiakini.com.8 September 2010". 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.


3°08′N101°41′E / 3.13°N 101.68°E / 3.13; 101.68

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.