Landslide, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
9 December 2008

Note: The area of coverage in this IKONOS image is approximately 1.1 km x 1.1 km.
The reduced resolution image on display has undergone compression and so does not represent the true resolution of the original satellite image.

A large landslide occurred on 6 December 2008 at Bukit Antarabangsa on the northeastern side of Kuala Lumpur. Part of a steep slope below a recently developed area failed, and the failed mass travelled downslope towards the east to bury houses, trees and recreational areas with the loss of several lives. The image shows the source, track and expanded toe of the landslide. The lower part of the landslide has buried a number of houses, damaged others, and carried parts of buildings and roofs downslope. The step-like nature of the failed mass suggests it probably moved on an air or dust cushion as it came down the slope. All steep slopes in the humid tropics are potentially hazardous, and construction activities in urban areas need to be carefully monitored.