Taman Desa condo collapse not due to rain, landslide: Khalid

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 15): Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad said the partial collapse at the construction site of a condominium in Taman Desa off Old Klang Road yesterday was not caused by heavy rain or landslide, the New Straits Times (NST) reported today.

Khalid said preliminary reports point to structural failures but further studies were required.

“There is a large possibility that (the collapse was due to) structural (failures). But that has to be gauged with a more detailed study,” he said during a community programme at the Seri Perak flats in Sentul today.

Also present was Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan.

According to NST, the authorities will be investigating the foundation of the project and the building’s columns and beams while the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) and the project’s contractors' civil structure consultant conduct their own investigation.

“We will wait for this and in the meantime, (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) DBKL will also do our investigations.”

Part of the sixth floor of The Address 2, a 37-storey condominium under construction by Maxim Holdings Sdn Bhd, collapsed during heavy rain at at 3.30pm on Friday afternoon, trapping two workers who were rescued several hours later.

The first victim, aged 30, was found among the debris on the first floor of the building at 5.15pm, while the second, aged 26, was pulled out from the rubble at 9.30pm. Both workers are believed to be from Bangladesh.

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin issued a stop-work order with immediate effect during a visit to the site last night.

She said it will take DOSH about a month to determine the cause of the collapse.

She is also expected to hold a discussion today on how to reduce the risk of the rest of the building collapsing.

A statement from Maxim acknowledged the concern of purchasers and other parties on the "giving way of The Address 2 swimming pool slab (6th floor) during concrete casting" and gave assurances that the cause of the incident is being investigated.

"We assure you that we are committed to ensuring the highest of building standard and the integrity of the development is of prime importance. We will spare no effort in ensuring that our obligations under the SPA are fulfilled fully. Please have our assurance on that," the statement said, adding that the developer will provide an update in the coming days.

Click here to see condominiums for sale in Old Klang Road, Kuala Lumpur.