KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — A landslide occurred on the Karak Highway due to heavy rain this evening, blocking off access to all vehicles and causing standstill congestion.

The landslide took place at KM52.2 at Bukit Tinggi, blocking off all lanes in both directions.

According to The Star on its website, unnamed officials informed STAR Radio Media Group’s head of traffic Priscilla Patrick that traffic along the highway was now at a halt, causing a 3km-tailback headed to Kuala Lumpur and 1km in the opposite direction.

"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," Patrick was quoted as saying in the report.

Police later denied that any vehicles were buried in the landslide.

Bentong district police chief Supt Mohamad Mansor Mohd Nor told state news agency Bernama that there were no reports of any such incidents this evening.

“Early reports that said there were vehicles buried in the landslide are completely untrue. I advise the public not to make confusing speculations about the situation,” he said.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof later confirmed that four vehicles were hit by the landslide, but no casualties were reported; the vehicles were also moved after the mud was cleared away.

The minister also said that the Karak Highway will be closed temporarily as further soil movement was detected, although the debris blocking the highway is expected to be cleared away tomorrow morning.

Separately, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak urged affected motorists to remain calm and to follow the instructions of the authorities handling the incident.

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has advised affected motorists to postpone their travels or reroute around the affected area; it is also allowing vehicles to perform U-turns away from the parts of the highway inundated.

It also advised motorists headed towards Kuantan to use the East Coast Expressway as an alternative while those travelling from Bentong to KL were directed to do so via Jalan Bahau.