PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A landslide has blocked all lanes in both directions on the Karak Highway in Malaysia, the main highway that connects the capital Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands and other parts of Pahang state.

"It's at KM52.2 at Bukit Tinggi. It's the really watery kind of mud. So all lanes in all directions are currently being obstructed," said head of traffic from the Star Radio Media Group Priscilla Patrick.

For now, traffic heading towards Kuala Lumpur is stuck in a 3km standstill, with a 1km crawl heading towards Bentong.

"I just spoke to officials - there are some cars that are buried in this landslide, so it's not looking good. It's not going to clear up till midnight, I think it's going to go on till morning," she added.

When contacted, a spokesman from the Pahang Fire and Rescue Deparment confirmed that there were four vehicles that were trapped in the landslide, but all passengers managed to escape unhurt.

As an alternative, road users can exit off at Bukit Tinggi or Bentong, or use trunk roads to bypass the congestion.

Drivers travelling between Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan will be diverted to through Bahau.

"The only route that people from the east coast can come into KL is via Bahau," said Ms Patrick.

Drivers coming from the east coast will have to exit off at Gambang, head to Muadzam Shah, then to Bahau, and then through Kuala Pilah to come back up to Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) tweeted that drivers coming from Kuala Lumpur can make a U-turn at KM29.3 to head back to the city for alternative routes.

"Bentong police confirmed a lot of trees have come crashing from that forest at Lentang, on the trunk roads and on this road as well," said Ms Patrick.

"So the access between KL and the east coast and the Karak highway is a no go," she added.