Such a study would help give early notice to problem areas and prevent unwanted incidents in the future, said the Academy of Professors Malaysia think tank and the Institute of Geology Malaysia.

They said the Baling incident was the result of a “debris flow” event, and not a “water head” as previously described.

They said such incidents must be mapped in detail to understand trigger factors and what causes it.

“We need to determine the possible impact and danger zones, including climate change impact in these areas, to reduce geological disasters in the future,” said the statement, signed by Ibrahim Komoo and Rasit Jaapar.

They said the term “water head” was used for a sudden rise in river water level caused by heavy rainfall upstream. It rarely caused water overflows and floods, and was only dangerous to people in the water.

However, a “debris flow” event was hazardous as it can cause debris floods – “mud floods which in turn kill people outside the riverbed and destroy property even located hundreds of metres from the riverbank”.

They said debris flow events occurred every 10 to 20 years. The earliest recorded occurrence in Genting Sempah, Pahang, in 1995, killed 20 people.