PASIR MAS: Fifteen families were forced to evacuate their homes after the banks of Sungai Kelantan near Dataran Air Muleh, Kampung Jalan Pohon Celagi here, collapsed this morning.
Pasir Mas district police chief Mohamad Roy Suhaimi Sarif said police were alerted to a crack on the road near the scene at 10.30pm yesterday.
However, the crack started to widen and between 2.30am and 6.30am today, the massive landslide occurred.
“The incident caused the river to break its banks, destroying a house and leaving eight others on the verge of collapse. There were no casualties reported,” he told reporters when met at the scene here today.
Roy said 15 families, comprising 50 people, were told to evacuate immediately.
“We have also closed all the exit and entry roads to this village as the unstable land movements still pose a danger.
“The locals noticed the little crack on the road, which has enlarged this morning, two days ago,” he said.
Resident Darohaimi Ahmad, 46, said she was sleeping when she suddenly felt a tremor at 5.30am.
“As I was sleeping on the floor, I could feel as if something heavy was being dragged. When I awoke and looked out the window, I was shocked to see the landslide happening near my house.
“I have been living here with my husband and three children for the past 21 years and I have never seen anything like this,” said Darohaimi who will be moving to her family home.
Meanwhile, state Industrial, Trade, Investment and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Hanifa Ahmad, who is also Pengkalan Pasir state assemblyman said the incident was believed to have occurred following erosion of the riverbank about 300m from the scene.
“According to the Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID), the landslide involved a 100m stretch and villagers must remain vigilant as the earth movement is still happening.
“I have urged the DID to lodge an immediate report to enable repair works and the residents’ representative has been told to gather data on the families involved, for the provision of immediate assistance.”
Hanifa added that he had contacted the menteri besar and the district council to help arrange a temporary shelter for the victims, adding that they would be transferred to the Pasir Mas district hall.