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THE LANDSLIDE TRAGEDY AT LEUWIGAJAH, BANDUNG , WEST JAVA , INDONESIA .

LOCATION

It is not often that a project that we have been involved in gets affected by such tragedy, however the tragic landslide at Leuwigajah has been the exception. This surely must be a lesson to be learned by all parties involved but at what cost – 143 dead, large area 26 ha damaged and remedial costs almost USD 1M with relocation costs of USD 5.3M. All this could have been avoided, sadly, if our survey work had been used together with appropriate engineering design, use of methane extraction and appropriate drainage. Something needs to be done to avoid there being a next time in some other part of Indonesia (… there has been a landslide at Lembang, North of Bandung within a few weeks of Leuwigajah and residents at Bekasi, Jakarta at another dump site are becoming restless……..).

In 2002 Geoindo carried out a survey of the dump site at Leuwigajah for a proposed methane extraction and power generation project that was to have been developed by Navigat. The project did not go forward. But at the time we superimposed the Geoindo survey on top of previous topographic data to help with engineering design of the front face of the pit which was to have been carried out by a third party.

We know the site and we are Bandung based which meant we were there within hours after the tragedy to see for ourselves.

There are numerous waste dump sites being enlarged now and all these waste dumps would benefit from regular survey. We at Geoindo are familiar with this type of survey and can provide added value by helping owners and project developers such as methane power projects benefit through our expertise and experience in not only carrying out the survey work but also superimposing other data in a GIS database, including geology, hydrogeology and other pertinent information to assist in engineering and audit monitoring.

Let's all learn from the tragedy at Leuwigajah and as a first step topographic survey and GIS database surely must be undertaken for all similar waste dump sites in order to avoid similar tragedy occurring again.

We have compiled below a very brief summary of events and over plan and photographs in order to document the landslide and assist others in any decision making process.

BACKGROUND

At approximately 02:00hrs. in the morning of 21st. February 2005, a tragic event took place that devastated a small village situated in Leuwigajah, Bandung , West Java, Indonesia, causing the deaths of 143 people and scores of injuries for those who survived the collapse

of a 50 metre high mountain of garbage waste. The 7 hectare dump site prior to the incident had been in use since Feb. 12 th . 1989 and received about 5,000 tons of garbage daily. The collapse of the waste now covers an area of 26 hectares.

Eye witness accounts have stated that they heard three loud bangs followed by a sound like a roll of thunder. As most of the population in the village area were already fast asleep, there was no time for evacuation. There were five previous landslides that occurred at the same location, which demolished six houses, but no fatalities or injuries were recorded. Many of the villagers had protested to local government officials as well as the waste dump management after the previous landslides. Due to the high cost of building a retaining wall to protect the local village, no action of any kind was undertaken.

THE FACTS

  • Heavy rainstorms over the preceding days and inadequate drainage to take excess water from the base area of the waste were a significant contributing factor to the event.
  • The three loud bangs heard by witnesses was, most likely, ignition of pockets of methane gas (non-vented) that accumulated over the years from decaying vegetation and other materials.
  • A number of requests over the years, made by local residents, for a safety barrier of some kind, to protect the village from subsequent landslides was proposed in 2002 to the central government, but funds for construction of the barrier were not forthcoming.
  • The villagers often complained that the water supply to the village was contaminated by seepage from the waste material and that there was a foul odour always present.
  • Many of the residents of the local village had asked to be relocated to another area, as they believed that the dumpsite was not safe.
  • After 15 days of searching for bodies, 137 have been retrieved and 6 remaining bodies will be left buried due to the search being called off.
  • The sum of Rp 50 billion (US$5.3 million) has been set aside to relocate residents wanting to move from the dump site area. The cost of a safety barrier was estimated at US $888,888.oo.

CONCLUSIONS

  • A barrier consisting of several staggered rows of tall, deep-rooted trees could have been planted to restrict the flow of waste material between the village and the outer perimeter of the dump area.
  • Engineering design of the front of the waste dump together with appropriate drainage and methane extraction which would have powered electric power plant at the site would have all helped to stabilise the waste dump. It is a shame that the power generation scheme in 2002 was not put in place.
  • The need for regular surveying and monitoring cannot be under-estimated and should be carried out on a regular basis. It would be prudent to undertake this on all similar waste dump sites in Indonesia .
  • Waste dump sites need to be engineered and should not be end tipped haphazardly without pre-planning or engineering.
    The first step in any engineering design is of course a topographic survey and some form of GIS based desk study.

WHAT NEXT?  

Call Geoindo if you have a similar problem or wish to develop a new waste dump for power generation purposes. Contact either : Bob Bacciarelli, email: bobbacc@geoindo.com or Bill Baird, email : bill@geoindo.com , or even call our office in Bandung , telephone no. 022 5207156

Drawing and Pictures of Landslide


Click Image to Enlarge