LANDSLIDE, A DISASTER THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY

Landslides are one of the major natural disasters in Malaysia. These geohazards often occur along hill slopes and steep slopes resulting in loss of life and property damage to the point of bringing huge losses to the country. As a result, disasters of this type show a sharp increase in terms of frequency, size and even magnitude.

Landslides are defined as the movement of bodies of soil and rocks that form slopes under the influence of gravity and occur through natural processes or as a result of human activities. Natural factors are related to material type and thickness, geomorphology, precipitation, and slope cutting. Human factors include slope modification, overloading slope peaks, drainage modifications and vegetation transplantation. The increase in geohazard cases is closely related to the development of infrastructure such as highways, roads, dams and new settlement areas which are accelerating and urgent to spread to the hilly terrains.

Landslides are classified based on the type of material as well as movement. There are 10 types of landslide classification, namely rotational landslide, translational landslide, block slide, rockfall, topple, debris or debris flow, debris collapse ( debris avalanche), earthflow, creep, and lateral spread.

RAPID DEVELOPMENT

The earliest landslide recorded in Malaysia was on 17 December 1919 when a block of limestone fell, which claimed 12 lives in Bukit Tunggal, Ipoh. In 2021 alone, 126 landslides occurred during the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) period. Among the most affected was the landslide on the slopes of Gunung Jerai, Kedah that claimed six lives. Most recently, a landslide incident in Taman Bukit Permai, near Ampang Jaya, affected 15 homes with two completely buried, resulting in 10 vehicles being buried and claiming four lives.

The earliest landslide recorded in Malaysia was on 17 December 1919 when a block of limestone fell, which claimed 12 lives in Bukit Tunggal, Ipoh. In 2021 alone, 126 landslides occurred during the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) period. Among the most affected was the landslide on the slopes of Gunung Jerai, Kedah that claimed six lives. Most recently, a landslide incident in Taman Bukit Permai, near Ampang Jaya, affected 15 homes with two completely buried, resulting in 10 vehicles being buried and claiming four lives.

This proves the occurrence of landslides is usually found in the form of slope failures on man -made slopes, especially slopes involved with reclamation and reclamation activities that often occur along highways, residential and urban areas. The rapid growth of urban areas further accelerates the rate of urbanization to accommodate the sharp increase in population which indirectly more land will be developed continuously due to the increasing demand for housing, infrastructure and transportation to meet the needs of urbanization. As a result, these activities have had to be located in ecologically fragile areas such as hillsides that are at risk of experiencing landslide disasters. Landslides in Malaysia are often associated with rapid land development factors.

This proves the occurrence of landslides is usually found in the form of slope failures on man -made slopes, especially slopes involved with reclamation and reclamation activities that often occur along highways, residential and urban areas. The rapid growth of urban areas further accelerates the rate of urbanization to accommodate the sharp increase in population which indirectly more land will be developed continuously due to the increasing demand for housing, infrastructure and transportation to meet the needs of urbanization. As a result, these activities have had to be located in ecologically fragile areas such as hillsides that are at risk of experiencing landslide disasters. Landslides in Malaysia are often associated with rapid land development factors. Across the country, 122 slope locations classified as critical high spots (hot spots) and potential for landslides have been identified. In the name of development, humans seem to be trying to make sudden changes that are unacceptable to nature. Changes that are disproportionate to nature’s ability to accept it will not only destroy the environment but will also destroy its inhabitants. Thus, disaster management and landslide risk requires an in -depth understanding in terms of geological, geotechnical and slope geomorphology factors. In the Malaysian context, continuous inspection of slopes to detect instability is essential in addition to referring the classification of slopes for development suitability to the Department of Minerals and Geosciences Malaysia. 

By: Prof. Prof. Dr. Haliza Abdul Rahman, Head of Laboratory, Youth Laboratory in Leadership, Politics & Citizenship,  Social Science Studies Institute (IPSAS), UPM

Date of Input: 07/06/2022 | Updated: 07/06/2022 | nooryati