Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Researchers at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) revealed that there is a danger of landslides lurking in the North Badung area.

Head of the BRIN Geological Disaster Research Center Adrin Tohari said. Rain and the Lembang fault have caused the hilly areas in North Bandung, which include Bandung City and Regency, West Bandung Regency to Cimahi, to be prone to landslides.

He further explained how changes in land use had an impact on the potential for landslides in the hilly areas of Bandung. According to him, the loss of absorbent trees and the condition of the volcanic soil which has not yet compacted is enough to make this type of area prone to landslides.

“Now we can see a lot of settlements there [Bandung Utara]. These hilly areas have been turned into residential areas. “Of course, when an area is open, the soil will easily absorb rainwater,” explained Adrin, quoted from CNN IndonesiaTuesday (2/4/2024).

“Hilly areas like Lembang are volcanic soil that has not yet compacted, so water can easily enter to fill the pores. If it becomes saturated with water, landslides will occur,” he added.

Thus, changes in land use in hilly areas trigger landslides.

He then explained the function of plants in preventing landslides, namely through their roots which are analogous to straws and their leaves which are analogous to a canopy.

“Because there are no longer any roots that suck up groundwater. Their function is like straws, sucking up water, so that there is balance. And there is also nothing left to cover the surface of the soil so that excessive water doesn't enter the ground, there is no longer a canopy,” he explained. .

Adrin said that the North Bandung area needs to be alert to landslides that can be caused by rain and those related to the Lembang fault.

Lembang fault

The Geological Disaster Research Center itself installed equipment to monitor a number of points on the Lembang fault. Monitoring in this area was carried out because existing research estimates that the return period for this fault is a short interval.

“The fault has a return period that is not long. So maybe 100 years from the last event. That is what we are trying to understand at this time whether the condition of the Lembang fault is accumulating energy or not,” he explained.

One of the areas being monitored is the Mount Batu area. Adrin and his team installed an Early Warning System (EWS) ground movement device in the area to monitor slope movement.

The reason is, it is feared that any movement or shaking in the area will cause Mount Batu to sag.

With this monitoring, researchers will be able to provide warnings if this happens.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(dem/dem)