[UPDATED] Batang Kali landslide: govt takes urgent steps to prevent further site damage

KUALA LUMPUR – The Public Works Department has implemented several short-term preventive measures to avoid further damage to the landslide-hit area at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Gohtong Jaya, Batang Kali. 

In a statement today, the department said that it has covered all the exposed slope surfaces with tarpaulin sheets and installed tilt sensors to monitor the soil movement at the location’s base. 

“The department has also diverted the surface water stream from the left drain to the one on the right to steer running water away from the landslide area,” it said.

It added that based on early checks of the incident site conducted by the forensics team from the department’s slope engineering branch, there had been two slope failures at the location within 20 to 30 minutes of each other. 

“There is a high possibility that the first slope failure happened at the campsite area. 

“The failure then caused the toe of the road’s slope to become weak, leading to a second and bigger landslide,” it said, referring to the mountainous road above the canyon where the campsite was located.

The road links the small towns of Gohtong Jaya to Batang Kali.

The department attributed soil saturation and high water pressing due to accumulated underground water at the toe of the hill to the initial weakening of the slope, which then led to retrogressive failure. 

It also said that besides underground water flow being detected at the location, visual analysis found that existing street drains are clean, dry and not blocked, which shows that there are no issues with the road drainage system. 

“The road shoulder on B66 Section 13.0 from Gohtong Jaya to Batang Kali has fallen and is damaged because of the landslide. Horizontal tension cracks can also be seen along the left lane heading to Batang Kali,” it said. 

According to the department, the landslide is estimated to be 70m in height, 120m in width and 330m in length, with a mass of about 450,000 cubic metres.

As of late afternoon today, a total of 24 victims had been confirmed dead, while the search is ongoing for nine people who are still missing.

A total of 94 victims were recorded to have been staying at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite when a gigantic torrent of earth cascaded from the slope along the stretch of road above.

Of these, 61 people have been rescued.

Many of the victims were staff and students of SJK(C) Mun Choong on an overnight nature outing. – The Vibes, December 18, 2022