Highland Towers collapse

The Highland Towers collapse was an apartment building collapse that occurred as a result of a major landslide on 11 December 1993 in Taman Hillview, Ulu Klang, in Selangor, Malaysia. The collapse of the Highland Towers' Block 1 resulted in 48 deaths. The other two blocks were completely evacuated due to safety concerns.

Highland Towers collapse
The surviving Blocks 2 and 3 of the Highland Towers in 2008, similar in design to the collapsed Block 1.
Date11 December 1993 (1993-12-11)
Time1:35 pm MST (Saturday afternoon)
LocationHighland Towers, Taman Hillview, Ulu Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
CauseLandslide caused by continuous rainfall over the course of 2 weeks
Deaths48; one of them was rescued alive (Shizue Nakajima) but died in hospital because of her injuries.
Location of the collapse

At the time of the collapse, the Highland Towers complex consisted of three similar 13-story blocks, built in phases between 1974 and 1982. They were built at the western base of a steeply sloped hill, which was terraced extensively in the early 1980s. These towers were home to affluent middle-class families; a sizeable percentage of the residents were expatriates. Block 1, the southern-most block, was built in 1977. Block 2, north-northwest of Block 1, was built in 1979 and was uphill from the other two blocks. Block 3, west of Block 2, was built in 1981. A swimming pool was located between the northwest side of Block 2 and the northeast rear of Block 3.

After ten consecutive days of rainfall, a landslide destroyed the retaining wall behind the first block's car park.

Causes


Soil erosion and landslides led to the eventual destabilization of Block 1's foundations. It started before construction of Highland Towers when the water had been diverted from a local stream called East Creek to bypass the building site.

In 1991, the constructions of the Bukit Antarabangsa Development Project began on the hilltop behind Highland Towers. The hill was cleared of trees and other land-covering plants, exposing the soil to land erosion. The building project also channeled its water into the pipe built for East Creek. However, the pipe was not strong enough to withhold this extra water in addition to mineral debris, sand, and silt from both the creek and the building site, causing it to burst at several locations.

As a result, the soil behind Block 1 absorbed the excess water. The monsoon rainfall further worsened the soil condition in December 1993. These factors combined over-saturated to the extent the soil had turned vicious and muddy. By the end of November 1993, water was observed flowing down the slope of the hill.

Shortly after that, a landslide took place and destroyed the walls, which were built to stop it. The mass contained an estimated 100,000 square meters of mud, its weight equivalent to 200 Boeing 747 jets. The soil gradually pushed the foundation of Block 1 forward. As a result of the building pressure, the foundations of Block 1 snapped. Some residents left the building when they saw cracks in the walls and the pavement around the towers. Despite the worsening signs of damage, no remedies were implemented before the collapse. [1]

Collapse

Block 1 collapsed at 1:30 PM on 11 December 1993, burying the building's occupants under tons of debris. Two Indonesian people and one Japanese woman were the first three survivors rescued, though the woman succumbed to injuries sustained in the disaster. A student who lived near Highland Towers witnessed the collapse and reported it to the media.[2]

On 13 December 1993, the 24 members Japanese Disaster Relief Team and French Securite, a French civil defense team, arrived at the disaster site to assist in rescue operations. According to Datuk Ghazali Yaacob, Police Internal Security and Public Order director, rescuers became aware of survivors from the third and fourth floors after two trained German Shepherds detected them inside the building.[2]

On 15 December 1993, the rescue team began entering the collapsed building via the elevator shaft instead of the destroyed stairways to rescue the remaining survivors, resulting in another two women being rescued from the scene. Despite discovering a message tied to a wire, purportedly from survivors on the fourth floor, no bodies could be found.[2]

On 16 December 1993, the French rescue team detected knocking sounds within the rubble of the collapsed building. However, as they were unable to find any additional survivors amidst the rubble, the rescue team pulled out from the sixth floor and above. Meanwhile, a committee was set up by residents and owners of homes at Highlands Tower to register names of victims and to represent them.[2]

The French Securite deployed heavy machinery and trained dogs into the collapsed building as a final attempt to rescue potential survivors. The rescue team dug the building up from the ground to the fifth floor on 19 December 1993, and found 29 decomposed bodies near the staircase of the third to fifth floors. Ten additional bodies were later recovered from the scene. Meanwhile, the army staff began preparing for demolition of the unaffected and evacuated Block 2, having found it unsafe for further occupation.[2]

The rescue team ended their mission on 22 December 1993, finding only two survivors and recovering 48 deceased.[2]

Reaction

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged that all skyscrapers and condominiums must perform stringent inspections to ensure that buildings are safe for occupation. In addition, he also sought the training of local rescue personnel should a disaster occur in the future. Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang of the DAP called upon the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the collapse.[2]

Lawsuits

On 15 October 1994, six residents filed a lawsuit against the developers of Highland Tower and eight other related parties, including AmBank and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, for alleged negligence. The lawsuit sought more than RM 1.5 million for loss of property, property damage, rental fees, and funeral expenses. The developers and architectural team were sued for constructing the building without regard for safety. The plaintiffs argued that the architectural plans were designed without qualification in mind and were approved by the engineers without knowledge of who designed the plan. Additionally, the construction company was found to have used substandard materials and improper welding procedures during construction.[3]

On 2 June 2004, AmBank agreed to compensate RM 52 million to 139 residents of the Highland Towers complex. While some residents were happy with the compensation, Dr. Benjamin George, the chairman of the Highland Towers Owners and Residents Committee, stated that the claims against the other parties involved were still ongoing.[4]

On 18 February 2006, the Federal Court ruled that the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council was not liable for the Highland Towers before, during, or after the incident. Additionally, the court ruled that the Council was protected by parliamentary immunity from claims regarding incidents before the collapse of the building.[5]

Aftermath

As all residents evacuated both Block 2 and Block 3 on 12 December 1993, the complex succumbed to urban decay.[6]

On 11 June 1994, the first memorial ceremony to remember the tragedy was held at the site, and a memorial plaque was erected in honor of those who died.[7]

On 11 December 2004, in conjunction with the eleventh anniversary of the tragedy, all former residents and victims of the Highland Towers gathered at the site as a final farewell.[8] The final farewell gathering was also attended by Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's wife.[9]

On 11 December 2010, AETN's History Channel showed an hour-long documentary of the tragedy, featuring accounts from the victims, their families, and former residents of the Highland Towers.[10]

On 3 December 2013, it was reported that AmBank planned to sell Highland Towers and its nearby bungalow lots through tender exercise, although no reason was given as to why the company would do so.[11] As the land was not sold in 2013, AmBank prepared to sell the land for second time on 5 January 2017.[12]

On 29 March 2016, the fireman responsible for rescuing the two survivors reconnected with them on a TV9 televised interview in Bandar Utama.[13]

The abandoned remains of Block 2 and Block 3 were restricted from public access, and the area decayed due to both vandalism and element exposure.[14] As reported by nearby residents, the remaining buildings became a haven for criminals, drug addicts, and mat rempits who used them as temporary shelters.[15] On 12 April 2016, three criminals were fatally shot by police near the buildings.[16][17] While attempts were made to cordon off the compound, no perimeter fencing was installed, and the gate was eventually tampered with to allow access. Prolonged use of the site as a criminal hideout caused residents of Taman Hillview and the neighboring Taman Sri Ukay to call for the demolition of the surviving towers.[18]

An initial proposal was made on 28 June 2018 by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, who suggested that the buildings are demolished and houses for the B40 group be built on the site. The proposal was opposed by former residents of the Highland Towers, who hoped to instead convert the area into a park.[19] The original proposal was later changed on 19 August, 2018, when the land was found to be unsuitable for housing and any buildings because of the collapse. As a result, the proposal was changed to create a recreational park instead.[6]

On 14 September 2018, the demolition of Highland Towers was scheduled to take place in October 2018.[20] However, the demolition was delayed on 11 December 2018, pending an analysis of the structural integrity of the buildings.[21] After lengthy delays, the Highland Towers were scheduled to be demolished by June 2019.[22]

Urban legends

Because of multiple deaths that occurred in the area, some residents alleged that the area was haunted. The assertions caused many paranormal enthusiasts to visit the ruins and attempt to capture paranormal activity. Others visited the site to pray to win the lottery. In 2015, when a YouTuber visited the area to shoot footage, the team found no evidence that the area was haunted. Local residents deny claims of paranormal activity and attribute assertions of such activity to hallucinations.[14]

Subsequent landslides in the vicinity

Landslides continued to occur during mid-to-late year monsoon seasons on both sides of the hill where the Highland Towers were built and at nearby hills in Ulu Klang, with some leading to fatalities:

  • On 15 May 1999, a major landslip occurred downhill from the Wangsa Heights condominium at Bukit Antarabangsa (1.1 kilometers northeast of the Highland Towers), cutting off the western access road up to Bukit Antarabangsa. No fatalities were reported.
  • On 20 November 2002, a landslide occurred at the tip of Taman Hillview immediately south of the tower, destroying a bungalow belonging to retired Affin Bank chairman general Tan Sri Ismail Omar and killing eight.
  • On 31 May 2006, a landslide occurred between the nearby village of Kampung Pasir and the Taman Zooville housing estate (3 kilometers north of the Highland Towers), destroying a Kampung Pasir longhouse and killing four.
  • On 6 December 2008, five days short of the 15th anniversary of the Highland Towers collapsed, a landslide occurred on the eastern side of Bukit Antarabangsa, 1.5 kilometers northeast of the Highland Towers. The landslide severely damaged 14 upscale bungalows, killing four and injuring fifteen.
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See also

References
  1. "1993 – Highland Towers Collapse, Malaysia". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  2. Veera, R. V.; Emmanuel, Tony; David, Adrian; Yusoff, Sufi; Razali, M. Jeffri; Rai, Vijesh (11 December 1994). "Chronology of events:". New Straits Times. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  3. Veera, R. V.; Emmanuel, Tony; David, Adrian; Yusoff, Sufi; Razali, M. Jeffri; Rai, Vijesh (11 December 1994). "Six residents sue the builder, eight others". New Straits Times. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  4. M. Krishnamoorthy (2 June 2004). "AmFinance agrees to payout". The Star. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  5. Wong, Raphael (18 February 2006). "Federal Court: MPAJ has full immunity from claims". The Star. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  6. "Infographics: Redevelopment of Highland Towers site". BERNAMA. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  7. Emmanuel, Tony; Yusoff, Sufi (12 June 1994). "Emotional gathering at site of tragedy". New Straits Times. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. Meng Yee, Loong (9 December 2004). "Final farewell at the site of collapse". The Star. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  9. Edwards, Audrey (12 December 2004). "Tearful memorial at Highland Towers site". The Star. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. Mui Yoon, Chin (10 December 2010). "Disaster revisited". The Star. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  11. Ng, Angie; Dhesi, Daljit (3 December 2013). "Highland Towers land for sale, 20 years after one of Malaysia's worst disasters". The Star. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  12. Lee Cheng, Thean (5 January 2017). "Highland Towers for sale". The Star. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  13. "Highland Towers 'baby' meets rescuers after 23 years". The Sun. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  14. Noor Aswad, Mohd; Pei Ying, Teoh (21 April 2019). "Demolishing myths: 'No ghosts at Highland Towers ruins'". New Straits Times. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  15. S. Puspadevi (10 April 2012). "Residents living near Highland Towers worry about their safety". The Star. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  16. Hani Shamira Shahrudin (12 April 2016). "Three suspected robbers shot dead near Highland Towers, 3 others escape". New Straits Times. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  17. "Robbers shot at Highland Towers". The Star. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  18. Shalini Ravindran (13 April 2016). "Nearby residents want abandoned Highland Towers blocks demolished". The Star. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  19. Ravindran, Shalini (11 December 2018). "Preserve the memory of those who perished". The Star. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  20. Kamarudin, Fazrik (14 September 2018). "Highland Towers scheduled for demolition". New Straits Times. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  21. Tee, Kenneth (11 December 2018). "Minister: Highland Towers demolition deferred for better safety checks". Malay Mail. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  22. "Highland Towers to be demolished latest by June". The Star Online. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

Further reading
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