KUALA LUMPUR – The sinkhole incident at Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur was due to geographical and soil structure factors, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He explained that the area’s limestone soil composition disrupts the flow of underground water, leading to soil instability, which eventually caused the sinkhole to form, according to Bernama.
“Sometimes, it’s impossible to predict when and where a sinkhole will occur. This phenomenon occurs not only in Malaysia but also globally, particularly in regions with limestone and specific geological conditions,” he said during the launch of the Convention Against Worker Exploitation today.
Fadillah, who is also energy transition and water transformation minister, expressed optimism that advancements in technology could help reduce such incidents in the future and enable early preventive measures.
“While we may not be able to predict exactly when a sinkhole will happen, with the right knowledge and technology, we can take necessary steps to protect communities and mitigate the impact of these incidents,” he added.
Last Friday, a tourist from India, Vijayaletchumy, 48, fell into an 8m-deep sinkhole when the ground beneath her collapsed in front of the Malayan Mansion at 8.22am.
Search-and-rescue efforts for the victim have now entered their third day.
According to Dang Wangi district police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, rescue teams have searched six sewer manholes in the vicinity as well as the Indah Water Konsortium sewage plant in Pantai Dalam.
The search locations include Wisma Yakin, Jalan Melayu, the Jalan Melayu intersection, Dataran Merdeka, Bank Pertanian Lebuh Pasar Besar and the Kinabalu roundabout.
As of 7pm yesterday, no new information has emerged regarding the victim’s location.
Meanwhile, the Federal Territories minister said the ministry will conduct a re-mapping of the capital city to ensure public safety, following the sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India yesterday that swallowed an Indian tourist who is still missing.
Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the mapping exercise will provide detailed information on how the sinkhole occurred and ensure that the area and other parts of the city are safe. – August 25, 2024