Karak landslide causes massive jam
> No casualties but incident results in major route diversions
PETALING JAYA: Heavy rain caused a landslide on the Karak Highway yesterday, cutting off traffic in both directions after tonnes of soil from a hillslope came crashing down and covered the road at the Km52.4 near Bukit Tinggi.
No casualties were reported in the landslide that occurred about 7.20pm but the incident caused major route diversions for those travelling to and from the east coast.
Bentong police chief Supt Mohamad Mansor Mohd Nor told theSun last night that except for a lorry that was stuck in thick mud at the site, no other vehicles were trapped.
“The lorry driver was safe. There were no other vehicles involved.
“Workers are trying to clear a single lane for emergency vehicles and as of 11.30pm, about 20% of the work was completed. This will take some time as it is not merely soil that came down the hillslopes but tall trees, rocks and boulders.
“However, even if we clear the soil, the road cannot be re-opened until the hillslope is deemed safe by the authorities. Currently, there is soil movement and a strong stream of water continues to flow down at the site,” he said.
Mohamad Mansor said dozens of policemen, firemen and personnel from other agencies were at work at the site and police will keep the public posted on further developments.
A spokesman at the Bentong fire and rescue department said firemen rushed to the scene on receiving a distress call and attempted to clear a pathway for emergency vehicles to go through the debris.
He said there was a massive traffic jam and vehicles were at a standstill for several kilometres from the affected portion of the highway.
Traffic police and firemen diverted vehicles from both directions to trunk roads at the Bentong and Genting Sempah interchange.
Pahang fire and rescue department operations assistant director Wan Mohd Nazlis Wan Ismail told theSun that three fire engines, one ambulance, and 20 fire and rescue personnel from Bentong and Karak were deployed to the scene.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak urged all highway users near the scene of the incident to obey the instructions of the authorities to reduce traffic congestion caused by the incident.
“I hope other motorists near the landslide area are also safe. Be calm while the authorities manage the traffic. Obey their instructions,” he said in his Twitter account last night.