They were advised to move out after cracks appeared on the walls and floors of their homes on Jalan Air Madu 1/51.

An hour-long shower this evening worsened matters. In the absence of a proper drainage system, the homes were in 40cm of water. Fearing further soil erosion, they were moved out.

The 20 families are now staying in three community halls in the area and in homes of friends and relatives. The blame for the soil movement and cracks is being put on the piling work in progress for the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway, some 50 metres away.

The residents say their woes began two months ago, three months after piling work commenced. They then approached the expressway concessionaire to build a separation barrier and construct proper drains, but their request fell on deaf ears.

One resident, Syed Abd Hakim Syed Salim, 38, said he fled his home when he heard a loud crash behind his house.

"The earth behind my house had moved upwards due to soil movement, causing the zinc roof to collapse. That was the noise," said the father of four whose children were at school at the time.

"I was alone as my wife was at work. I ran out and saw the customers at the shop next door fleeing," he said.

Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique, who visited the scene, said the priority for now was housing for the residents.

"They will be housed in the community halls tonight. Kuala Lumpur City Hall will then arrange for temporary housing," said Zulhasnan, who is also Member of Parliament for Setiawangsa.

He said a dialogue to discuss the residents' claims would be held tomorrow morning with the concessionaire of the expressway.

Twelve firemen from the Setapak Fire and Rescue Department, responding to a call, helped the residents evacuate.

Its Federal Territory assistant director (operations), Abu Obaidad Mohd, said three shops, two community halls and a kindergarten were also affected.

He said a portion of the wall of the kindergarten had sustained a large crack and was about to collapse.

He added that Tenaga Nasional Berhad had been requested to disconnect supply to the area.

Air Panas 4B Youth Movement chairman Mohamad Baba Kutty said the residents had two months ago suggested that the contractors build a barrier.

"This was because the highway is just 50 metres from the houses. But the request was ignored," he said, adding that some residents had been living there for as long as 16 years.

A spokeswoman for the concessionaire, Konsortium Lebuhraya Utara Timur (KL) Sdn Bhd, said a soil assessment evaluation was done before highway construction began.

The highway, to be completed by 2008, is to ease traffic congestion to the city from Setapak.