‘Heavy rain destabilised the soil’
BENTONG: Heavy rain over the last two days in Genting Highlands here triggered soil movements leading to the landslide in Jalan Genting-Amber Court on Tuesday evening.
Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) deputy director-general (operations) Kamal Daril said rainwater had destabilised the soil structure along the slope, which had been previously cut by a developer.
“Initial checks by the department at the site yesterday revealed that the weight of the water-logged earth at the top of the slope had pushed the soil downwards, resulting in mud and debris spilling onto the road.
“The huge volume of water had pushed the earth downhill.”
Kamal said checks showed that the developer had complied with the slope design requirements, but nevertheless, the department was studying the degree of the slope.
“Soil movement following torrential rain is normal due to the soft earth texture, but we are monitoring and inspecting the entire area,” he told the New Straits Times.
Kamal said mitigation work would be carried out in the affected area covering 20m in width and 225m in length to cushion the slope from further landslides.
“The Public Works Department or local council may need to instal canvas sheets to cover the affected area to prevent soil movements if it continues to rain heavily,” he said.
He added that a seven-member team from JMG had been deployed to inspect the site.
In the 5pm incident on Tuesday, a landslide hit the area, burying the Jalan Genting-Amber Court single-carriageway.
Videos taken during the landslide have gone viral.
No one was injured.
A JMG source said there could be another landslide in the area due to its current soil structure.
The source noted that water was flowing from the top to the bottom of the slope.
“There are still minor earth movements so we must be prepared for any contingency if the rain returns and lasts more than a day.”
As there are no huge rocks along the slope, the soil texture is deemed unstable, resulting in the soil becoming loose when a powerful gush of water (resulting from heavy rain) flows downwards.
“If our team identifies any major soil movement that could pose a danger, we will alert the police and Fire and Rescue Department to take action.
“All agencies operating at the site have been advised to be careful and immediately stop work once it rains heavily,” said the source.
It said no evacuation order had been issued to occupants of nearby residential unit.
Genting Highlands Fire and Rescue Department chief Yusry Abdullah Sani said the stretch had been opened to light vehicles at 6pm, with earth-clearing work completed last night.