Article: Wall collapses after rain

 Friday April 24, 2009

By WINNIE YEOH

THE heavy rain on Tuesday caused the collapse of a gabion retaining wall along the jeep track from the Penang Botanical Gardens up to Penang Hill.

The wall, measuring 12m high and about 10m long, fell down the slope but not onto the road.

Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong said the wall collapsed at about 4.15pm on Tuesday and no one was injured during the incident.

"The wall cost about RM200,000 and was completed in late January to prevent landslides after the heavy rain last September which caused several landslides in the area.

Liew (right) with Penang Hill residents, looking at the collapsed gabion retaining wall along the jeep track from Penang Botanic Gardens to Penang Hill.

"I will request the Public Works Department (JKR) to conduct a thorough investigation and the report will be submitted to the Chief Minister as soon as possible," he said when contacted.

He also said the incident should not recur and repair work would be carried out once the report was completed.

A JKR engineer who declined to be named said the land at the lower part of the slope eroded due to excessive rain, causing the wall to fall.

"For now, the affected portion of the hill slope will be covered with plastic sheets and water will be diverted from the slope," he said.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 24 April 2009