Following a series of landslide tragedies, the Selangor Disaster Management Unit has advised all local councils to initiate necessary measures to prevent rain-related mishaps from occurring at construction sites and to prevent and counter landslides, debris flow and mud flood.
“These are all man-made disasters that can be prevented if the necessary mitigation was in place,” said unit head Ahmad Fairuz Mohd Yusof, as reported by The Star.
This is especially timely, as the monsoon season begins next week and will last until January 2019. Slopes that have been cut-up and are not properly covered face a high risk of landslides.
“With the rain comes flash floods, and landslides can happen if there are exposed slopes as a lot of absorption will take place and the ground will become soggy and heavy,” Ahmad Fairus added.
“We have also advised for water management run off at construction sites because a bad flow will also cause landslides.”
The Star also quoted Prof Edy Tonnizam Mohamad, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) centre of geotropic director, who cautioned that heavy slope cutting at hillside areas nationwide is a major concern in a tropical country like Malaysia.
Following the recent fatal landslide in Paya Terubong, it has been reported that not a single construction site in Penang is following the soil erosion mitigation plan stipulated in their project approvals. — Construction+ Online
