NAME : SURAIDA BINTI ABGAR

MATRIK NUMBER : BT 11110166

SEKSYEN : 57
READING AND WRITING IN ENGLISH (UB 00302)

LANDSLIDE THE NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS

INTRODUCTION
Can I ask you something? Do you know what is landslide? I know some of you do not know
what is the meaning of landslide, right? Let me tell you. Landslides is a type of mass
wasting that also known as a movement of rock, debris or earth down of slope. It happens
when the gravity exceeds the strength of earth materials. According to Ministry of Education
and National Institute of Education (2006), a landslide occurs when part of natural slope is
unable to support its own weight. For example, soil material on a slippery surface underneath,
can become heavy with rainwater and slide down due to its increased weight. I also want to
tell all of you the other meaning of the landslides. Do you want to know? As I know the
landslides is the downward or outward movement of soil, rock or vegetation under the
influence of gravity. I hope all of you can understand. Landslides have many types among
these are falls, flows, debris flow, debris avalanche, mudflow and lateral spreads, There are
many factors and effects of landslides. But there also have a solutions to prevent the
landslides from happens.

Figure 1: Landslides

CONTENT
FACTORS CAUSES THE LANSLIDE
How landslide occurs? Many factors contribute the landslides including natural
factors such as the heavy rain and earthquakes. Landslides also causes by human activities
such as inappropriate drainage system and deep excavations on slopes. The first and the most
is cause by heavy rain. This is because water is commonly the primary factor triggering a
landslide. Slides often occur following intense rainfall, when storm water runoff saturates
soils on steep slopes or when infiltration causes a rapid rise in ground water levels.
Groundwater may rise as a result of heavy rains (Ministry of Education and National Institute
of Education 2006). As water tables rise, some slopes become unstable. Next, landslides also
cause by earthquakes. According to Centre for earth Science Studies, Seismic activities have
always been a main cause of landslides throughout the world. Any time plate tectonics move
the soil that covers moves with it. When earthquakes occur on areas with steep slopes, many
times the soil slips causing landslides.
Then, inappropriate drainage system can cause landslides. Natural drainage lines on
slopes are blocked by terracing or contour bounding adopted to prevent soil erosion and to
enhance percolation during dry season for cultivation, without sufficient provision for surface
drainage of excess storm water during high intensity rains increase the landslide vulnerability
(Ministry of Education and National Institute of Education 2006). Finally, deep excavations
on slopes also can cause the landslide. Developmental activities like construction of
buildings, road cutting, cut and fill structures causes modification of natural slopes, blocking
of surface drainage, loading of critical slopes and withdrawal to toe support promoting
vulnerability of critical slopes. For instance, Director Institute for Environment and
Development University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo, the
landslides occurring in Taman Bukit Mewah, Bukit Antarabangsa, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
on December 6, 2008 is due to the negligence of irresponsible human beings do not control
development in the hills (Mymetro, November 5, 2012).

Picture 2: Landslide happen at Taman Bukit Antarabangsa have destroyed the

houses
EFFECTS OF LANDSLIDES
There are many effects of landslides to humans. Firstly, the landslide is very harmful
and dangerous to human because it can cause the death and injuries to people and animals.
Moreover, the moving mass can bury the people and animals under debris. Most deaths
caused by the landslides were due to burial of cities or villages located on gently sloping
ground several kilometres from the sites of landslides initiation.

According Robert L.

Schuster and Lynn M. Highland, the short-term effects of landslides on wild-animal habitat
are negative through direct destruction of habitat. An excellent example is provided by much
of the coast of California is undergoing erosion. Especially hard-hit by landslides is the
aforementioned Big Sur Coast of central California, the site of the Monterey Bay National
Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), a protected area of coastal waters and home to a variety of
protect species, ranging from barnacles and corals to clams and crabs, and even to sea otters.

Secondly, it can make loss and damage of property and assets. The force and speed of
debris, mud or earth mass generated due to movement may destroy houses, buildings and
other properties on its way. Earth mass by landslides also can damage the infrastructure and
lifeline facilities such as roads, railway, bridges, telecommunications and electrical supply
lines. This can make people cant do their activities because of the disasters. Earthquakeinduced landslides have also damaged many types of engineering structures and caused a
large percentage of the total economic losses in several earthquakes.

Finally, according to David K. Keefer economic losses were reported from all types
of earthquakes-induced landslides except slow earth flows. The effect of this disasters is
bring negative economics in the country including the expensive cost to repair the damage
structure, loss of property value, disruption of transportation routes, medical costs in the

event of injuries and indirect costs such as lost timber and loss of resources. For examples,
the central highlands of Sri Lanka often experience landslides during the rainy seasons.
Watawala landslide in 1992, Hela Uda landslide in 1993, Naketiya landslide in 1997,
Mulhalkele in 1986 and Elapatha, Abepura landslide in 2003 can be named as most
devastating landslides that occurred in the recent history claiming many lives, damaging the
property and having a significant impact on the countrys economy. Out of those, the Hela
Uda landslide reactivated twice in 2003 and 2006, fortunately no deaths were recorded during
those two reactivations (Ministry of Education and National Institute of Education, 2006).

Picture 3: Landslides make severe damage of building and facilities

WAYS TO PREVENT LANDSLIDE
There are many ways to prevent the landslides from happen. First, try to protect the
slopes like to prevent people from removing the materials from the soil and cutting the trees.
The government can do campaign so that the people does not cut down trees indiscriminately.
Next, replant trees where they have been removed on slopes and slopes base to prevent
erosion. By planting trees it will be able to prevent the soil from collapse. This is because the
roots can grip and enhance soil structure from collapsing. When it rains, the rain water can be
reduced through canopy interception process. If the tress cut down it will cause the water in
the soil becomes saturated and the land cannot sustained a lot of water. By replanting the
trees, it can prevent landslides from happen. Finally, make cementing of the soil because it
will able to prevent the soil from absorbing a lot of water. Rain water is the agent of the

occurrence of landslides. When it heavy rain the soil cannot sustained a lot of water and
cause landslide occurred.
CONCLUSION
As a result, landslides that happen or occur are very harmful to human being because
it can cause deaths. Furthermore, the landslides that happen will destroy many facilities or
house that build in high risk zone or area landslide. As human being, I believe we can not
totally overcome the landslide but we can avoid it from bring more damage and harmful.
Therefore, people must prevent landslides from happening more seriously because preventing
is better than cure. We already know our government really committed and put many efforts
to make sure that we can avoid landslide. To make sure all of this effort can overcome and
avoid landslide, we as a Malaysian citizen needs to give full support and be a good citizen
that can work together with the government to face all the impact or effect when landslide is
happen.