KUALA LUMPUR: Last year’s devastating landslide that claimed the lives of 31 individuals at an unlicensed campground in Malaysia has been attributed to persistent heavy rainfall, according to a government investigation. The tragic incident occurred at an organic farm campsite in Batang Kali, central Selangor state, where 92 people were sleeping.
The disaster unfolded when a deluge of soil and debris descended from a road approximately 30 meters (100 feet) above, covering approximately 1 hectare (3 acres) of the site. The majority of the campers were families enjoying a year-end vacation, and tragically, 11 of the 31 deceased were children. Among the heartbreaking discoveries made by rescuers were the bodies of a mother and her toddler daughter locked in a final embrace, as well as a man buried under the landslide still clutching his loyal dog.
The relentless rain had persisted for five consecutive days leading up to the landslide on December 16, accumulating to a total of 118.6 millimeters (4.67 inches), as disclosed by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a late Monday statement. Additionally, he reported that the cumulative rainfall for the preceding 30 days amounted to 444.8 millimeters (17.5 inches).
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that this heavy rain caused slope failures, which buried the camp sites under the soil, causing damage to property and loss of life. He emphasized that the investigation found no significant evidence of anthropogenic activity, defined as environmental changes resulting from human actions, contributing to this tragic landslide.
The forensic report concerning the incident was declassified earlier this month, although the reason for the delay in its release was not specified. Local media reports suggested that the families of the victims had requested the government to make the report public to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the heartbreaking event.
