Landslide threatens W. Sumatra residents<\/p>\n
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang<\/p>\n
West Sumatra is a province vulnerable to landslides which often
\nlead to fatalities and will always be a threat in the future.
\nNearly every year, when rainfall is above the normal level or
\nmore than 55 millimeters, and continues to fall for more than 24
\nhours, landslides are likely to happen in several areas,
\nresulting in roads being covered by earth from steep hillsides,
\nhouses buried under earth and placing residents lives at risk.<\/p>\n
Two of the deadliest landslides (galodo in the Minangkabau
\nlanguage), in the history of the province, occurred in Bukit Tui
\nin the town of Padangpanjang in 1987 which claimed the lives of
\n132 people, and the landslides in the three regencies of Agam,
\nPasaman and Pesisir Selatan, which buried 101 people alive in
\n2000.<\/p>\n
The latest landslide which killed 25 people occurred in Gaung
\nsubdistrict in Padang city on Sept. 2. Two months before that,
\njust four kilometers from the site, a landslide took the lives of
\na married couple in Bukit Batang Babungo.<\/p>\n
Landslides are mainly caused by geological factors. The soil
\nin West Sumatra contains tufa, silica and boulders, which have
\nlow cohesion. The soil can collapse easily when penetrated by a
\ndeluge of water. Furthermore, the province is located along the
\nBukit Barisan mountain range, where most sections are
\ncharacterized by steep gradients.<\/p>\n
\"During heavy rain, especially after hot weather, water will
\neasily seep into the second soil layer. Before becoming compact,
\nthe adhesion of the top and second soil layers will be penetrated
\nby water, and thus the top soil will collapse very quickly,
\nsometimes carrying with it huge trees,\" head of the West Sumatra
\nRoad Infrastructure Office, Hediyanto W. Husaini, explained to
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Landslides usually happen in hilly or cliff areas with
\ngradients of 80 degrees to 90 degrees. However, due to limited
\nfunds, the government is forced to cut 80-degree gradients to
\nnearly all the roads passing through hilly areas in the province,
\nwhereas in fact the safest incline is 45 degrees.<\/p>\n
In spite of the threat they pose, many residents have built
\nhouses -- most of them without permits -- in high risk areas
\nthrough the years. They cut and leveled the hills to build houses
\none behind another, right in front of steep hillsides.<\/p>\n
The local administration has actually mapped out areas which
\nare prone to landslides. The Environmental Study Center of
\nAndalas University, in cooperation with the West Sumatra chapter
\nof the Regional Environmental Impact Management Agency
\n(Bapedalda) identified areas in the province prone to landslides
\nin 2001.<\/p>\n
For example, the areas of Gunung Padang (Lantiak, Gado-Gado,
\nKaciak and Airmanis hills), Bukit Lampu (including Bukit Gaung),
\nthe slope area of Teluk Kabung, and the area of Ladang Padi had
\nbeen categorized as vulnerable to landslides and unsafe as
\nhousing areas.<\/p>\n
The 2004-2013 Padang city master plan, which was approved by
\nthe Padang City Council on Tuesday, also categorized the areas as
\ndangerous and prohibit housing.<\/p>\n
However, more than 4,000 families or 10,000 people are still
\nliving in those areas as of this moment, and a significant amount
\nof funds would be needed to relocate them.<\/p>\n
\"The government should work together with non-governmental
\norganizations to inform residents living in the risky areas of
\nthe dangers they could face, or at least notify them to be alert
\nor stay away from the areas during the current rainy season,\"
\nsaid Hediyanto.<\/p>\n
Chief executive of the West Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian
\nForum for the Environment (Walhi), Agus Teguh Prihartono said
\nthat the regular landslides in the province were not only caused
\nby geological factors, but also due to illegal logging. He cited
\nas an example the landslide in Agam regency in 2000.<\/p>",
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