Three days ago at the Orang Asli village of Kampung Genting Peras in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Tina Esat said she was at home taking shelter from the continuous downpour when she suddenly heard an explosion from outside.

Startled, the villagers went outside to take a look and discovered that major landslides had destroyed the only road leading to their village as well as inundating four houses with mud and debris.

Now, the village of about 300 people is mostly...