BATANG KALI – The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry has not ruled out the possibility of further landslides in the disaster area located at a gorge below the mountainous road linking the towns of Batang Kali and Gohtong Jaya.
However, its minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said they are still awaiting further reports from relevant agencies involved to determine the level of safety at the location, according to Getaran, the Malay-language sister portal of The Vibes.
“The risk is there but we will wait for detailed information from the agencies involved,” he said when met after inspecting the location of the landslide here today.
“Our instructions are to be vigilant and for action to be taken based on the reports received by closing off some areas and so on.”
He explained that based on readings of preliminary data at the site of the incident, there was a failure on the embankment slope resulting in the earthfall onto the campsite.
“There was a failure on the slope of the embankment,” he said.
“The dimensions of the debris measured approximately 500m in length, 200m in width, and 8m in depth, with an estimated debris volume of 450,000 cubic metres hitting the area.”
At the same time, Nik Nazmi, representing his ministry, expressed his condolences to the family members of the victims who died and who were affected by the incident.
He also advised the public to always be alert to the threat of landslides and other geological occurrences in their respective areas.
“Now it’s the rainy season, so avoid being in risky areas,” he said.
It has been reported that 16 people are confirmed dead and 17 missing as of early afternoon today when the landslide occurred at the Father’s Organic Farm – where schoolteachers, students and families were camping out, mostly in tents.
Of the 94 victims involved, 61 have been rescued.
Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming has said that the three campsites affected had been operating illegally for at least two years. – The Vibes, December 16, 2022
