Residents take refuge in hall after retaining wall collapsed

IN GOMBAK, over 150 people are refusing to enter their homes after a large portion of a retaining wall barely a metre away from their five-storey police living quarters collapsed.

Residents choose to stay in a hall near the police quarters despite Public Works Department (PWD) officers and its director assured that the building was structurally sound after an inspection on Sunday.

Gombak deputy police chief Supt Rosly Hassan said the 150 people who occupy 32 units in Block F1 were fearful that the daily heavy rainfall could trigger another incident.

Some families had gone in to collect their personal belongings and valuables.

We will expedite the repair on the retaining wall so that residents can feel secure entering their homes again, he said.

It is learnt the 13 blocks housing 612 units are for police officers in the nearby area.

Several large pieces of tarpaulin have been placed over the site of the collapsed wall by PWD personnel to ensure rain water would not seep into the soil and risk more landslips.

The incident occurred on Saturday at about 7pm after heavy downpour in the afternoon.

The retaining wall collapsed into three cars parked nearby. No injuries were reported.

Supt Rosly said Bukit Aman would oversee the repairs on the collapsed wall expected to be carried out this week.

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Residents take refuge in hall after retaining wall collapsed