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Report: Pipe
water leakage the cause of landslide
07/12/2009 The Star By LESTER KONG
PETALING JAYA: A poorly maintained and damaged drainage system resulted in
the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide which killed five people on Dec 6, last
year, according to the declassified Final Landslide Investigation Report.
Another factor contributing to the tragedy was the leaking water pipelines
near some abandoned houses along Jalan Wangsa 11, a fact confirmed by
Syabas during interviews by the investigating committee.
The 17-member investigation team also found that sumps at the junctions of
Jalan Wangsa 5 and Jalan Wangsa 9 were broken, thus allowing high water
infiltration into the ground.
Then and now: The scene at Taman Bukit Mewah in Bukit Antarabangsa soon
after a landslide occurred last year and (below) the area as it is today –
still undergoing rehabilitation work by the Road Works Department.
High water content resulted in “soil creep” or soil movement over the
years which further damaged the pipes.
The most probable triggering factor of the landslide was due to the water
leakage from the active water pipe along the abandoned houses that caused
a build-up of high pore water pressure in the slope, the report said.
“The seismic survey carried out confirmed the existence of pockets of
loose sandy material in the soil profile,” it said.
Earthquakes have been ruled out as a cause of the landslide at Taman Bukit
Mewah, Bukit Antarabangsa in Hulu Klang that destroyed 14 bungalows.
“The seismic records show that there was no sign of earthquake motion on
the day of the landslide and also a month before that. This eliminates
earthquake as a probable cause of the failure,” the report said.
The report was compiled by the committee, led by Public Works Department
slope engineering branch director Datuk Dr Ashaari Mohamad and included 16
other senior officers from 10 government agencies and consultants.
The 78-page report was leaked and published on a social publishing website
two days before it was due to be released — tomorrow.
Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the Cabinet had agreed to
declassify the report following an application by the Ampang Jaya
Municipal Council.
The report was also based on interviews with 21 witnesses on the site’s
history.
Hundreds of people around the affected area were also evacuated to
temporary shelters before being allowed to go back to their homes. |
