"Prior to the landslide, it was incessant heavy rains since Wednesday at 7.30 pm, and at 1.30 am (on Thursday), we suddenly heard loud noise from a hilly area located just few meters from residential area at Tanjung Mulak village, Pulau Pinang sub district," Tanjung Mulak Village Chief Jangkudin said.
The extent of the landslide is 50 meter long and around five meter high, while the height of the hill that fell down was around 20 meters.
"It claims no live, but seriously damaged several houses, while 12 houses are prone to follow-up landslides," he said.
In 1994, a similar landslide had happened in the same area, he added.
Lahat District Head Saifudin Aswari Rivai has instructed that people living next to the hill must be relocated to another area which is at least 20 meters away from the hill.
"We have contributed Rp5 million for each family to relocate their houses in area within a radius of 20 meters from the landslide-prone area," he said, adding that the amount of the donated money was adequate for the relocation because most of the houses are made of wood.
The natural disaster victims were also given relief aid consisting of among other things 100 kg of rice, canned sardine, instant noodles, sweet ketchup, emergency tens and cooking wear. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
