LOWER RISK OF LANDSLIDES AT LABAN RATA, SAYS UMS CLIMATOLOGIST

KOTA KINABALU, June 26 (Bernama) -- The likelihood of a landslide occurring at Laban Rata, the popular climbing route on Mount Kinabalu, is much lower compared to the recent landslide incident at the foot of the mountain in Mesilou, Kundasang on Monday (June 24).

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) climatologist, Associate Professor Datuk Dr Ramzah Dambul, said the terrain at Laban Rata is less steep and has fewer rock fractures and soil slips due to erosion and weathering processes, making it less prone to landslides.

The chief executive officer of the Sabah Institute for Development Studies (IDS) pointed out that videos of climbers ascending Mount Kinabalu around Laban Rata during heavy rain only showed strong water flow with minimal debris such as plants, soil and rock fragments.

“While a landslide theoretically could happen at Laban Rata, the probability is much lower. So, stay calm, seek information from experts and do not believe the ‘fantasies’ spread by hallucination peddlers about this issue,” he told Bernama.

Monday, Ranau Fire and Rescue Station Chief Ridwan Mohd Taib said an initial report was received from Sabah Parks about landslides, starting at the foot of the mountain at around 1.20 am, followed by a mud flood at 5 am.

Ridwan confirmed that there were no casualties or property damage from the incident, as it occurred far from residential areas and did not affect nearby villages.

Sharing his hypothesis on the incident, Ramzah said three factors could have contributed to the lanslide:  weather, water flow and geology, with Kundasang experiencing heavy rainfall over the past one to two weeks.

He said the heavy rain increased the intensity of water flow on the mountain's surface, which is not entirely composed of solid rock.

“There are also plants and thin soil layers. Additionally, the mountain rock surface is not completely solid due to fractures caused by erosion and weathering processes.

“When the surface water flow is too strong, exceeding normal intensity for several days, small trees, soil layers and rock fractures are washed away and accumulate, eventually resulting in a landslide,” he said.

Ramzah noted that the landslide was not purely soil-based but consisted of a mixture of materials, including plants, soil layers and rock fractures dislodged and washed away by the intense surface water flow.

He said in extreme weather conditions like the current season, numerous landslides might occur in steep areas of Mount Kinabalu but remain unnoticed as they happen far from human settlements, in remote locations and possibly at night.

“This is actually a common phenomenon that can occur routinely during the wet season like now. Every anomaly, no matter how small, has the potential to become a disaster. But the risk is manageable.

“We just need to be vigilant and always heed the information and instructions from monitoring agencies like the Fire and Rescue Department, APM (Civil Defence Force) and local authorities,” he said.

He also dismissed claims that the landslide was triggered by an earthquake, as no earthquake was reported in the area at the time according to official records from the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

Ramzah said on the same day, there was a moderate 5.7 magnitude earthquake in the Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia, at 5.55 pm, but it occurred after the landslide. The previous day, there was a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan at 10.27 pm, but it happened well before the landslide.

“Given the time intervals and the significant distance, the impact of these earthquakes could not have been felt in Kundasang,” he added.

-- BERNAMA