Residents of a row of double-storey terraced houses in Taman Wawasan in Puchong, outside Kuala Lumpur, were dumbfounded after a sizeable sinkhole emerged just outside their homes.
The residents, who live in Jalan Wawasan 3/9, said they did not spot any sign of soil erosion and there were no structural cracks on the road leading to their homes.
That is why it came as a shock when the landslide occurred late on Dec 16 after a heavy downpour, "swallowing" four of their cars.
The occupants of nine houses closest to the sinkhole were forced to evacuate through the back door after the authorities declared the area unsafe.
There were no casualties.
The row of houses in Jalan Wawasan 3/9 is on high ground and close to a slope.
Resident Abd Rahim Md Ali, who lives with eight of his family members, was among the nine home owners affected.
He said he was shocked when he saw the entire road in front of his house sinking, with his parked car going down with it.
"We never expected a landslide to occur here as there has never been any warning sign and the roads seemed perfect," said the 72year-old who is retired.
Some of the residents affected have lived in the area for more than two decades.
Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2023 de The Straits Times.
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Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2023 de The Straits Times.
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