The department suspects that the wood waste was uprooted and came from outside the forest reserve, carried by strong river currents caused by heavy rainfall.
“Heavy rain for three days since 16 December caused Sungai Kerau (also known locally as Sungai Telemong) to rise to an unusual level and resulted in a water surge phenomenon. The rising river water resulted in swift currents,” Hizamri said during the site visit, as quoted by New Straits Times.
“Since the fast flowing water was travelling downhill, it resulted in an extreme water column impact, which swept along wood debris, large trees, and even caused landslides.”
In a statement last night, 29 December, the department added that Lentang Forest Reserve has been gazetted as a water catchment area since 2002, which means it is a protected forest and no logging activities have been allowed in the area.
Hizamri said the public should not put the blame on the government as they have been always trying to safeguard the environment and look into the needs of the community.