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Landslide hit Miriybedda in 2008 too, people reluctant to leave?
Oct 30, 201403:19 PM
A study carried out by the SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) indicates that a massive landslide hit Miriybedda in Koslanda, on 29, December 2008, but the residents of the area reluctant to leave their old habitats and settle in safer locations.
It says, “On 29 December 2008, a massive landslide at Miriybedda in Koslanda killed two persons, injured one and several tea estate houses razed to the ground.
The incident took place late in the night when people were asleep. The houses were built on unstable hill slopes which failed due to continuous heavy rainfall in the area. Tea estate authorities evacuated eight families from the unstable residential area and provided them with temporary shelters. The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) was consulted for rehabilitation of the displaced families and they found that a large part of the estate was situated on very unstable slope conditions which could give rise to fatal landslides. Based on this finding it was suggested to the people to evacuate vulnerable slopes, however, they were reluctant to leave their old habitats and settle in safer locations. Therefore, it is suggested that the perceived risk must be communicated effectively so that risk minimising decisions can be implemented,”
Peradeniya University’s senior Professor of Geology Kapila Dahanayake told Ada Derana that the specific area where the landslide occurred last morning (29) was positively a reactivated landslide.
