Danger of another landslide at resort in Tambun

IPOH: The hanging blocks of rock measuring between five and 10 metres in length on the slopes of the limestone hill at The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat in Tambun, here, are still in danger of crashing down the hill.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG) had conducted a field assessment and found that the limestone hill that experienced a landslide yesterday was still unstable and small landslides were occurring.

He said the department estimated the affected landslide yesterday involved an area of about 5,000 square metres from a height of 50 to 100 metres.

"There is still water flowing from cracks along the slope facing the row of villas in the resort. In this regard, all parties are urged to take precautionary measures,” he said in a statement, here, today.

Shamsul Anuar said his ministry through JMG would continue to assist the local authorities in monitoring the stability of the slopes in the area and provide safety advice and development planning on hillsides in line with the guidelines for Determining Hazard Zones Around Limestone.

It was reported that a continuous downpour since Monday had triggered the landslide which struck The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat yesterday, killing two guests.

Rescuers found the body of Ooi Chee Wei, 39, at 9.55 am, followed by the woman, Lee Tze Juin, 32, a few minutes later in the rubble of the landslide which occurred at 1.30 am

Both victims were from Kuala Lumpur and in Ipoh for work purposes. The post-mortem conducted on them found that they died due to injuries from being crushed by rubble in the landslide.

-- BERNAMA