The Highland Towers tragedy?

> Today is the 25th anniversary of the Highland Towers tragedy. Block 1 of the condominium, located near Bukit Antarabangsa in Ampang, Selangor, collapsed at about 1.30pm, shocking the nation.

> It was one of the worst disasters involving a high-rise building in Malaysian history. The tragedy claimed 48 lives.

> An extensive search and rescue mission involving experts from Singapore, France, Japan, Britain and the United States was carried out after the condominium block “slid” and “toppled” forward.

> Japanese national Shizue Nakajima was first to be rescued from the rubble. However, she died later in the hospital due to severe internal bleeding.

> Umi Rashidah Khoruman, 22, was next to be pulled out. She was rescued with her 18-monthold daughter, Nur Hamidah Najib. The two, who were level seven residents, miraculously escaped unscathed. There were no other survivors.

> The tragedy was caused by a landslide triggered by two weeks of non-stop rain, burst pipes and water runoff from a nearby housing project.

> The mud build-up that rammed the tower was about 150,000 cu m – the mass of 200 jumbo jets.

> Residents of Block 2 and 3 were also forced to evacuate. They have never returned home. Over the years, the abandoned towers were ravaged by nature and vandals. There were even rumours that they are haunted.

> In September, the Housing and Local Government Ministry said the towers would be demolished soon for redevelopment.