‘Rain caused Camerons landslide’
Cameron Highlands police chief Deputy Superintendent landslide near the CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Illegal construction or land clearing was not the cause of the landslide near Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) Sharples Bungalow here.
Cameron Highlands police chief Deputy Superintendent Hasadid A. Hamid said the landslide was triggered by heavy rain on Sunday.
“We have conducted checks at the hill near the bungalow and no illegal activities were found. The landslide happened due to rainwater overflowing.”
He said the Meteorological Department recorded 100.9mm of rainfall on that day.
“The number recorded was above the normal rate of 20mm per day. The total amount of rainfall on that day was similar to that of the day of the worst landslide here in November 2014,” he said at the scene yesterday.
In November 2014, the nearby town of Ringlet was hit by landslides and a mud flood when water from Sultan Abu Bakar Dam overflowed after a downpour.
In the incident, five people died and five were injured, while 203 residents in Kampung Baru and Bertam Valley were evacuated to the
(second from left) at the scene of the yesterday. Pic by Muhaizan Yahya Ringlet community hall.
Hasadid said following the downpour, three other locations nearby were also hit by landslides: Km.55 of Bharat Tea, Km59 of Oly Apartment and a house in Jalan Perdah, Tanah Rata here, between 2.45pm and 3.22pm.
“However, no injuries were reported and the roads were re-opened on the same day.
“Besides landslides, a flash flood also occurred at the government housing area in Jalan Masjid at 3.30pm.
“However, the waters had completely subsided two hours later. The flash flood happened due to Sungai Lembah Bertam overflowing its banks,” he said.
Hasadid added during the incident, the water level at Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in Lembah Bertam here was reported to be at the normal level as of 5.35pm.
“If the water level reaches 1,069.8m, the residents of Lembah Bertam would be immediately evacuated.
“If the water level reaches 1,070.7m, the dam door will fully open, releasing the water,” he said.
He added police and other agen- cies, including the Public Works Department, Irrigation and Drainage Department and District Disaster Department, were working round the clock to ensure the November 2014 incident did not recur.
“We are investigating this incident from all angles, including checking slopes for illegal land clearing and construction. The investigation is led by district Disaster Department chairman Ishak Md Napis, who is also the district officer.
“From a meeting that we had earlier, we have identified several landslide-prone areas here. We are monitoring these areas,” he said
He said an official report on Sunday’s incident would be released in three months.
“Cameron Highlands is safe to visit. I urge the public to stop spreading information that is not true on social media.”
Thirteen people were evacuated and four cars parked near the bungalow were damaged when the landslide hit the area following heavy rain.
No one was injured in the 3pm incident. The occupants of the building were immediately instructed to leave the building.