Displacement of drains indicate soil movement - Dr Azman

Residents residing in landslide-prone areas have been urged to monitor the situation around their homes, especially the drains located in front of their premises, to ensure there are no incidences of soil erosion.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Geotechnic and Transportation Department professor, Associate Professor Ir Dr Azman Kassim said, this is first indication of land slips and is the basic criteria for structures without support.

“Structures built without support should be monitored, if there are any movements in the position of drains, it means there is soil movement.

“Meanwhile if structures with support are found to have cracks or move, something is definitely happening underground,” he said when contacted here today.

Dr Azman was commenting on the recent landslide at the Teratai Apartment in Bukit Beruntung, Rawang on Monday which led to the evacuation of about 2,000 residents.

He advised residents to also monitor pipes and the position of buildings around their area, apart from drains, which are built without concrete support.

“That is the first sign, it becomes even worse if its rains which will soften the soil.

“This situation will weaken the soil and structures without support will tend to move. It is the duty of the residents to monitor these structures in their area.

“Incessant rains will accumulate underground as water will not have a chance to drain out. Just like in a basin, little by little the soil will become saturated until it finally floods.

“Residents or parties involved should finds a way to regulate this water and drain it. If no monitoring is conducted, something bad is sure to happen,” he said.

Four people were killed while 14 others injured after a landslide hit Taman Bukit Mewah and Taman Bukit Utama at Bukit Antarabangsa in December 2008.

Dr Azman said, following the incident, developers were urged not to bury pipelines in slopes so that any movement or leaks can be detected immediately.