Six squatter houses buried in landslide

JOHOR BARU: Six houses in a squatter area at Kampung Tahana, Jalan Padu, Larkin here were destroyed in a landslide early Monday, causing an estimated RM30,000 in losses.
The incident, which occurred about 12.30am, affected 24 people, consisting of 11 men, nine women and four children. Three motorcycles were also lost in the landslide.
Occupants of about 10 other houses were advised to evacuate.
Six firemen in a fire engine rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call.
A resident said she heard screaming around midnight and some occupants had to run out from the back door because the front door could not open.
Johor Baru Selatan district police chief Asst Comm Sulaiman Salleh said there were no casualties.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported police would be informing the Land Office today on action to be taken and also Syarikat Air Johor Sdn Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd to ensure water and power supply in the affected area had been reconnected.
It quoted the district's deputy police chief Supt Abdul Wahib Musa as saying the houses were occupied by Indonesian families, and the victims were believed to have sought temporary shelter with relatives.
He said the landslide occurred at a construction site and the developer might be advised to stop work temporarily.
Checks by the Fire and Rescue Department found the area still vulnerable to landslide because of the land structure, especially on rainy days.