KARAK (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - "I thought I was going to die," recalled a mother who survived the landslide near a major highway linking Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan in Pahang.
"There was a loud crack and the next thing I knew, there were boulders, trees and mud rolling down the hill towards my house," said Zulafida Zainal, 36.
"I quickly grabbed my baby boy and ran from our house. I didn't even have time to put on my sandals," said Madam Zulafida, who gave birth to her 16-day-old son Muhammad Rayyan Mikhael by Caesarean section.
She was relating the fear and terror she felt when the landslide at Karak highway occurred behind her house on Wednesday (Nov 11).
She said she tripped and fell in the mud with her baby as she and her husband tried to save themselves.
"Rayyan was drenched and shivering from the cold as it was raining, but he did not cry," she said, adding that she had entirely forgotten about her operation wound due to the adrenaline rush.
"Only now am I feeling the pain of the stitches and it hurts really bad," Madam Zulafida said while holding her abdomen.
A total of 73 people from 14 families were affected by the mudslide about 2km from the landslide at Karak highway.
General worker Azril Mustafa, 37, was watching television with his family when they heard a loud sound from the top of the hill.
"It was terrifying. I do not wish to experience it again in future.
"It gives me chills every time I think of it," said Mr Azril.
He added that he saw some cars and motorcycles washed away by the mud but was grateful that his family was safe.
Businessman Mohd Asri Mohd Yusuf, 28, whose father works with the state forestry department, said he did not expect it to happen to his family.
"I was having dinner with my friends when I saw the traffic on the highway swell suddenly.
"I rushed home to see the devastation and I am glad that none of my family members was injured," he said.
A portion of the highway was still closed on Friday (Nov 13) as workers continued to clear mud, rocks and trees that had swept across the four lanes.
