A bungalow belonging to a former defence forces chief, Ismail Omar, collapsed in a landslip early this morning, killing five of his family members. Rescuers are looking for three others who are still trapped under the rubble.

The hillside bungalow, located in Taman Hillview, Ampang, was less than 300m from the site of the Highland Towers which toppled on Dec 11, 1993, claiming 48 lives, also due to a landside.

According to Bernama , two of the five bodies identified were Ismail's son-in-law, Shamsul Azhar Safei, 35, and grand-daughter Zurian Aishah, 5. The other three bodies have yet to be identified.

Rescued alive were Ismail, his daughter, Intan Jasmin, who is Shamzul Azhar's wife, and their three children <!RM>>

Ismail rescued

The first victim was rescued at about 5.30am.

Ismail (photo), who is Affin Bank chairperson, appeared frazzled and tired when he was rescued at 9.50am.

A watching crowd clapped as the general, who sustained light injuries to his leg, walked from the ruins of his home aided by rescue workers after frantic efforts to clear the debris. He was later brought to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Rescuers have built a tunnel to reach the missing victims, believed to be trapped in the bungalow's hall and bedrooms.

Four luxury cars belonging to the family were also destroyed.

Kuala Lumpur has been experiencing unusually heavy rainfalls over the past few days.