4. all the 13

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/08/incumbent-mp-to-seek-compensation-for-rockfall-victims/

Incumbent MP to seek compensation for rockfall victims

Posted on April 8, 2013, Monday

Chua (left) with one of the victims at the site where the biggest boulder stopped at the seventh house and the victim’s house veranda.

TAWAU: Incumbent Tawau member of parliament Datuk Chua Soon Bui will seek compensation from the Kukusan Hill quarry operator on behalf of the 13 victims of Kampung Tanjung Batu Tengah (Besi Buruk), after their houses were flattened by boulders that crashed down from Kukusan Hill following blasting operations, on Saturday morning.
Chua said she would also request from the operator to send food to the victims who are putting up with family members and relatives.
“I urge the operator to compensate for their losses and also medical fees,” she said after visiting the site and some of the victims yesterday.
She added that the local authority should make immediate assessment on the safety of the area as the trail left by the boulders ‘one the size of a house’, had loosened the soil and this could create mudslides when the rainy seasons came.
“We are looking at another future disaster as the soil on the hillside has been exposed and I fear the safety of the villagers here,” she said.
Chua also called on the local authority to provide the villagers with places at the People Housing Project which she learnt were still vacant.
“Otherwise, the locals who are squatting here should be relocated to a more suitable and safer place,” she said.
She said the local authority should seek all preventive measures, including the assessment of the environmental impact as the villagers could be facing other future natural disasters.

Three women and three babies were injured and seven houses flattened when three boulders, including one the size of a house, came crashing down from the top of Kukusan Hill near here around noon on Saturday.

Tawau police chief ACP Awang Besar Dullah said on Saturday that the quarry operators had been ordered to cease operations while the residents were told to vacate their homes.
Awang Besar said the boulders came loose as a result of tremors caused by blasting at the quarry about 11.30am. [ near HIGH noon]
He said the operation using explosives was stopped until further notice, adding that the relevant departments would ensure safety first at the area before allowing anymore quarry operations.
<< Previous Entry - Next Entry >>
To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.