IPOH: Continuous rainfall has been identified as the cause of a landslide in Blue Valley in Cameron Highlands which killed five Myanmar nationals, including a woman last Friday.
According to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, the Minerals and Geoscience Department has conducted investigation on the site to identify the cause as well as to determine the danger zone and control zone of the incident area to ensure the safety of rescuers while search and rescue operations were carried out.
“The initial investigation found that the cause of this incident was due to continuous rain starting from 3pm on Jan 24 with cumulative daily rainfall reaching 126mm on Jan 25.
"This continuous rain caused the high and steep natural slopes (more than 35 degrees) based on granite rocks to collapse.
"In order to avoid the risk of landslides, the ministry is recommending the local authorities to take into account inputs from the Slope Hazard and Risk Map Production Project (PBRC) in development planning and regulating agricultural activities in slope areas.
"The ministry will study the appropriateness of installing early warning systems such as rain gauges, especially in seven areas identified as highly vulnerable for landslides by the end of 2024," the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 30).
It added that the ministry was committed towards research activities and the use of the latest technologies in identifying and monitoring geological disaster 'hotspot' areas, and was also willing to cooperate with local authorities and technical agencies to expand on disaster risk management programmes.
