Understanding the Batang Kali landslide, the earthfall that happened on a rainless day
SHAH ALAM - While authorities have yet to pinpoint the cause of the Batang Kali landslide, geologists believed that the disaster may have stemmed from delayed earthfall borne of overly wet soil.
This was the preliminary assumption from Geological Society of Malaysia Abd Rasid Jaapar, who added that this could be the reason why the landslide happened despite the lack of heavy rain at the time of the incident.
“What happened in Batang Kali can be called as ‘delayed deep-seated landslide’ or rather slope failure. Heavy rain that took place a few days earlier slowly dissipate into the ground and flow underground.
"That’s why the failure only occurred after few days of rainfall," Rasid told Sinar Daily over the accident which -- at press time -- has claimed 13 lives.
The Batang Kali landslide made headlines earlier this morning with officers from the Selangor Fire and Rescue department arriving at ground zero at 3am after receiving a distress call at 2.24am.
A total of 94 victims at the nearby glamping sites, there, were buried under loose soil.
Incidences of earthslip at hillsides have always been a possibility, added Rasid who was also quick to add that not all hillsides are dangerous.
"All hillside have potential for disaster to occur but not all hillslope is dangerous and not all hillslope pose risk to any activities or development at foot slope," added Rasid.
Another expert, Prof Dr Azmi Hassan also concurred with Rasid's conjecture.
"Eventhough there is no rain last night or just before the landslide occured, we have to be aware that it has been raining for the past few days.
As such Azmi stressed that it was timely for private campsites undergo stringent inspection and evaluation if it is located near areas that were prone to landslides.
"Authority need to make requirement where all private campsite especially places where landslide likely to be occured need to be inspected.
"Certain area need to be inspected at least by the local council.
"This is a lesson to be learnt, we cannot accept this kind of tragedy which can be avoided," he reasoned.
[Editor's note: this is a developing news]
