City Hall: Weak Slope, Poor Drainage, Heavy Rains Caused Mahameru Landslide
Traffic crawls on Jalan Parlimen after a massive landslide on the Mahameru Highway during evening rush hour on January 7, 2013./Pic:The Malay Mail
The landslide, which happened opposite Wisma Tani, caused a major congestion in the city as motorists were stranded in their cars from the site up to the Travers police station, 6.6km away.
A spokesman for the Sentul Fire and Rescue Department said the landslide occurred at about 5.30pm. No one was injured.
Seventeen personnel and two fire engines were sent to the scene after being alerted to the landslide.
According to City Hall, council workers had carried out slope-strengthening work at the site.
City Hall deputy director-general (project implementation and maintenance) Datuk Najib Mohd said the council had been carrying out the work there since October 7 and it was unfortunate that a landslide had occurred before the work was completed.
“We have been carrying out remedial work as the slope is weak and there is a drainage problem,” he said.
“The heavy rain made matters worse and possibly caused the landslide.”
Thirteen City Hall officers managed to clear the debris late last night.
The landslide was believed to be the second in the area.
The first took place in May last year.
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| massive landslide on the Mahameru Highway during evening rush hour on January 7, 2013 |
KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) will place 0.9-metre high concrete barriers at the hill slope where a landslide occurred along the Mahameru Highway this afternoon.
Sentul Fire and Rescue chief Zahari Mohamad said the barrier would be installed in two layers, at the latest by tonight to contain further landslips.
| massive landslide on the Mahameru Highway during evening rush hour on January 7, 2013 |
"For tonight, DBKL will open only two lanes there (KL-bound) and my department will be monitoring the situation from time to time.
"They will also make road realignments and according geological experts, there is still earth movement," he told reporters at the scene.
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| massive landslide on the Mahameru Highway during evening rush hour on January 7, 2013 |
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said because of today's lanslide, earth reinforcement work at the location which started on October 7 last year and scheduled to be completed in March, would probably take much longer.
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| massive landslide on the Mahameru Highway during evening rush hour on January 7, 2013 |
"Tomorrow, I will call the contractors concerned to discuss the matter and in the meantime, DBKL will install concrete barriers there which should be done in two hours," he said after making a visit to the location.
Checks by Bernama found heavy machinery clearing the rubble to normalise traffic flow.
The lanslide occurred at 5.20pm during a heavy downpour. However, no casulaties were reported. -- BERNAMA
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| massive landslide on the Mahameru Highway during evening rush hour on January 7, 2013 |
