Saturday, December 29, 2012

Bukit Setiawangsa embankment wall collapse

If you are a user of Jalan Jelatek, you would have noticed a couple of bungalows high up on the hill at Bukit Setiawangsa. A colleague once mentioned that the price of those bungalows have appreciated many times over. I wonder what's he thinking now.


This is what you will see at Bukit Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur, whose concrete embankment has collapsed due to soil erosion subsequently resulting in a landslide.

According to Puncak Setiawangsa residents association assistant chairman Fauziah Jamaluddin, only homes and shoplots opposite the site would be affected and other houses in the area are not affected, people can go home and move around freely.

As reported in another article, Fauziah Jamaluddin said that many of the residents in the area were on holiday, and had not been in their homes when the embankment collapsed on Friday night.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be making an alternative route for residents to move in and out to ease congestion as the road needs to be closed.

DBKL has prepared the community centre for residents to stay in. Food will also be provided.

Eight luxury bungalows near the collapsed barrier have been extensively damaged, with one house being split into two.

Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib confirmed that so far seven houses were badly effected while 57 other families have been evacuated.

What happened was the concrete barrier crumbled at 10pm Friday night and buried the only access road from Taman Puncak Setiawangsa.




More pictures of Bukit Setiawangsa embankment collapse

Source: The Star


Related article:
- Bkt Setiawangsa landslide: Collapsed wall doesn't meet current guidelines, says KL mayor


Dec 30 Update:
- House 39 atop collapsed wall to be demolished by Monday, say police
- Makeshift media centre set up in Setiawangsa
- Wary of a bigger collapse, some watch and wait while others move out

Dec 31 Update
- DBKL: 60m retaining wall highest in city
- Property prices likely to plunge if damage worsens
- ‘Shotcrete’ caused collapse
The section of the house near the swimming pool sitting metres below after the collapse. - The Star

Jan 1, 2013 Update
- Work to demolish damaged house begins
Slow and steady: Soil movement is still detected during the demolition work. — Bernama/The Star
- Bukit Setiawangsa’s evacuees worried about looting

Jan 2 Update
- Checkpoints set up at landslide-hit Bukit Setiawangsa to prevent looting

Jan 3 Update
- 13 shoplot owners in Bukit Setiawangsa to submit claims to Cabinet soon
- Bukit Setiawangsa folk want to stay put due to abundance of facilities
Monitoring: Federal Territories Fire and Rescue officials visiting the site of the landslide in Setiawangsa. — Bernama/The Star

Jan 5 Update
- No compensation for damage after collapse angers Setiawangsa residents

8 comments:

  1. luckily I am not those rich ppl stay there..

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    Replies
    1. No doubt, Bukit Setiawangsa does have an awesome view of the city, especially of KLCC and the KL Tower. Imagine viewing the fireworks display during New Year's eve countdown from that vantage point.

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  2. Anonymous8:44 AM

    ...and I thought after Highland Towers, people would have learnt their lesson and would be smarter now?

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    Replies
    1. There is always a demand for highland residences especially here in KL considering urban land is scarce and people are more affluent(?).

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  3. OMG how scary!! i guess right away those bungalows will depreciate several folds rather than appreciate many times over!!

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    Replies
    1. Kind of reminds me of Bukit Antarabangsa during their landslide days but then again, people forget easily. Besides, the air is fresher uphill too. Can't argue with that.

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  4. Oh dear! Yeah saw in the TV news. Few years ago got one college mate lost everything when his bungalow decided to go low. Poor fellow.

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    Replies
    1. A colleague of mine was also affected. He and his family had to evacuate from their bungalow in Bukit Antarabangsa.

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