Kota Kinabalu: Sabah will install early warning systems for natural disasters such as landslides, which can cause loss of life and extensive property damage. Sabah Mineral and Geological Survey Director Dr Frederick Francis Tating said early warning systems would be installed at various locations following the recent completion of four-month geological mapping studies in the State.Sabah recorded a total of 192 landslides between 1961 and 2023. “One of the areas for the system is Mesilau in Kundasang where there was a major mud flood.

“They are planning to install an early warning system for the flow of debris there,” he told the media after handing over the final report of the latest study of Kampung Mohimboyon in Kundasang. Frederick said the system would also be installed in the village, which recorded 52 slopes and 40 landslides, which showed instability risks. The Chief Executive of Ranau District, Tinus bin Manggam, hopes the study would lead to the creation of an effective early warning system for the district, especially in the highland areas of Kundasang and Ranau where there is growing interest in tourism development. 

“Safety should be paramount, thus what we need is a more structured development, especially on hillsides, to prevent the risk of landslides that can cause unnecessary loss of life and property damage,” he said. 

Results of the recent slope mapping study showed  Kundasang has various degrees of geological disaster risk.The presentation indicated that in the worst-case scenario, a catastrophe would occur within minutes in an area of about 2,000 people, including schoolchildren.Additionally, the presentation also mentioned records of earth movements ranging from 0.01mm to 5 metres, the presence of cracks in buildings and landslides in the district of about 30,000 people.

Frederick said the findings would be shared with relevant stakeholders, especially those involved in development sectors in Ranau.Among the resolutions prepared by the department include a NATSIS system for future land application and disaster management operations. He noted the system can help reduce project costs and time by identifying geological disaster hazards at proposed project sites at advanced notice, thus mitigating potential hazards. “There is also a need to integrate data between agencies to serve as a reference for future development planning,” said Frederick, who noted the maps produced should also identify safe zones for use by the Disaster Operations Control Centre. “In addition, early planning is required to ensure the suitability of site selection based on hazard levels for any infrastructure development, such as the construction of school buildings, in areas at risk of geological hazards.“Any development in geologically sensitive areas must take into account expert advice from technical agencies and refer to the level of seismic hazard and the presence of active faults in the area.”

It said a meeting of the task force investigating the sinkhole incident in the area was held today and various agencies presented their findings.

Based on these reports, it was determined that the sinkhole incident was localised. Referring to geological information and existing soil investigation records, the location of the sinkhole is situated on the Kenny Hills Formation, which generally consists of alternating layers of schist, phyllite, and quartzite rocks,

 DBKL said in a statement, adding that the buildings and area surrounding the sinkhole are safe.

DBKL said representatives from the public works department, minerals and geoscience department, police, fire and rescue department, Indah Water Konsortium, survey and mapping department, Institution of Engineers Malaysia, and the Malaysian Geotechnical Society submitted reports on the incident.

DBKL is currently reducing the hoarding area at the incident site. Previously, the hoarding spanned 160m, stretching from Wisma Yakin to the Jalan Masjid India police booth.

It added that the new hoarding area will be divided into three sections:

a) From the entrance to the Wisma Yakin underground parking to the Jalan Masjid India/Lorong Bunus 1 junction;

b) At the second depression area in front of the Jalan Masjid India police booth; and

c) Part of Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman 3.

PETALING JAYA – Mesyuarat Pasukan Petugas Khas Insiden Tanah Jerlus Masjid India hari ini mendapati bangunan dan kawasan di Jalan Masjid India adalah selamat untuk dikunjungi.

Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) dalam satu kenyataan berkata, kesemua agensi terlibat telah melaporkan hasil dapatan masing-masing dalam mesyuarat tersebut.

“Berdasarkan laporan tersebut, didapati bahawa kejadian tanah jerlus adalah bersifat setempat.

“Merujuk kepada maklumat geologi dan rekod penyiasatan tanah sedia ada, lokasi insiden tanah jerlus terletak atas formasi Kenny Hills dan secara amnya terdiri daripada selang lapis batuan schist, phyllite dan quartzite,” kata kenyataan itu.

Menurut kenyataan itu, DBKL kini sedang mengecilkan kawasan hoarding di tapak kejadian yang sebelum ini sepanjang 160 meter bermula dari Wisma Yakin sehingga Pondok Polis Jalan Masjid India.

“Kawasan hoarding yang baharu akan dibahagkan kepada tiga bahagian iaitu dari susur masuk tempat letak kereta bawah tanah Wisma Yakin sehingga simpang Jalan Masjid India/Lorong Bunus 1.

“Kawasan lain adalah mendapan kedua iaitu di hadapan Pondok Polis Masjid India dan sebahagian Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman 3,” jelasnya.

KOTA KINABALU: Sistem amaran awal tanah runtuh dicadang dipasang di Sabah terutama di kawasan tanah tinggi Kundasang, Ranau tahun ini.

Pengarah Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains (JMG) Sabah, Dr Frederick Francis Tating, berkata sistem itu bagi memberi amaran mengenai kemungkinan berlaku bencana khususnya tanah runtuh.

Beliau berkata, beberapa kawasan dikenal pasti untuk pemasangan sistem itu selepas kajian pemetaan geologi Sabah disiapkan.

"Satu daripada kawasan itu ialah di Mesilau, Kundasang yang sebelum ini dilanda banjir lumpur besar.