Flat dwellers flee to safety
Malay Mail 27/12/2004

KUALA LUMPUR: Hundreds of high-rise apartment dwellers in several parts of the Klang Valley fled their homes following shockwaves from the earthquake that jolted Sumatra yesterday.

The shockwaves also caused deep cracks to appear on several parts of low-cost flats in Shah Alam, Kota Damansara and Cheras.

"I was in the bathroom when I felt the ground shake. I thought the building was about to collapse," said David Devadas, 41, of Perdana apartment in Section 13, Shah Alam.

He said, he was more curious rather than afraid as he had never experienced a tremor before. Residents of Pekeliling flats in Jalan Tun Razak panicked when they felt the buildings shake for several minutes and used the lifts to escape.

"Around 8.45am, I felt the tremors and told my family members to leave the unit," said Vijay Sundram 27, who lives on the 16th floor.

He said he did not think of anything except saving his life. "We flouted the biggest emergency rule when we took the lifts, but we were afraid and just thought of saving ourselves," he said.

D. Sivagammy, 35, said she was watching television when she felt the tremors but thought it was her son shaking her chair.

"But when I saw the pictures on the wall swaying, I thought the building was about to collapse," she said.
Sivagammy, who also lives on the 16th floor, grabbed her sleeping son and fled.

"Even the lifts were shaking," she said.

Her neighbour, R. Michael Das, 38, said he managed to grab his personal documents before fleeing. "I had experienced some tremors in the past but today was the worst. I was afraid the building would collapse," he said.

The frightened residents then gathered at the playground.

"We expected the worst," said Noraina Jumeri, 45. Fire and Rescue Department and City Hall officers inspected the building and allowed residents back into their homes two hours later.