PETALING JAYA: A forensics report revealed that rainfall was the main factor that triggered the deadly Batang Kali landslide.
Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who leads the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), said the landslide was due to heavy rainfall for five days prior to the incident as well as in the preceding month.
“The heavy rain caused the slope to collapse, resulting in the campsites, including Hill View, Farm View and Riverside, to be covered in soil debris, leading to property damage and loss of lives,” he said in a statement.
He added investigations found no concrete evidence to show that human activities contributed to the landslide.
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The landslide occurred in the early hours of Dec 16 last year at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite at Batang Kali in Hulu Kelang, Selangor, killing 31 people, including 13 children, and injuring 61 others.
Previously, natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said a preliminary report on the landslide was presented to the Cabinet on Jan 4.
He said the report, which was prepared by his ministry through the minerals and geoscience department and the survey and mapping department, had also been read by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Preliminary findings by the works ministry previously showed that tension cracks, stretching along the road running above the hill slope, and the accumulation of underground water beneath the campsite had likely caused the landslide.
Last year, local government development minister Nga Kor Ming revealed that the three campsites did not have the relevant licence to operate.
He also confirmed that the operator was only permitted to run an organic farm at the site but had not applied to set up campsites.
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