Two weeks of heavy rain caused Cameron Highlands landslide: Perak PWD

IPOH – Continuous rain has been identified as the cause of the landslide at KM27.10 of the Jalan Simpang Pulai-Blue Valley road that killed two people on Thursday, according to the Public Works Department (PWD).

Perak PWD deputy director Hamdan Ali said that the location had recorded high rain levels (217 millilitres) for the past two weeks, adding that the continuous rain had softened and weakened the ground in the area, causing the landslide.

“We found that the landslide brought down more than 10,000 cubic metres of soil,” he said to reporters after inspecting the site yesterday.

Hamdan said clearing work would be carried out as a short-term measure.

“Because of the high volume of soil, we will need a week to clear the road, and will monitor the stability of the hill slope from time to time to find a long-term solution,” he said, adding that it was the first landslide to happen in the area.

“Parts of the slope are stable, but others are not. We still need to study the slope. The length of the affected slope is about 100 metres,” he said.

He said the route was expected to be reopened on December 9 after all clearing work is completed and if the weather permits.

According to Hamdan, the hill slope between sections 38 and 48 of the area was found to be stable.

Lorry driver Muhammad Hafiz Hamdi, 31, and the driver of a Toyota Alphard vehicle identified as Tan Chee Heng, 36, were killed in the landslide.

The search and rescue operation was called off at 6pm yesterday as there was no indication that other victims were buried in the soil.

A spokesman for the Perak Fire and Rescue Department said operations using heavy machinery and the assistance of the Special Tactical Operations and Rescue Malaysia Team (STORM),  the K9 unit, and the Special Malaysian Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team were carried out to ensure the debris was clear of other victims.

He said the search and rescue team in the operation involved 143 people, including 32 firefighters, 26 STORM members, seven K9 unit members, and four policemen, assisted by the concession company Belati Wangsa, with 31 personnel. – Bernama, December 4, 2021