Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has attributed the recent sinkhole in Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, to the geological conditions of the area, which is primarily composed of limestone.
He explained that the porous nature of the limestone, combined with heavy rainfall and active water flow, led to ground instability and ultimately caused the sinkhole.
The sinkhole, which is about 8 meters deep, resulted in a foreign tourist falling into it. The search and rescue operations have been challenging due to the presence of underground utility cables and sewerage systems. The tourist, an Indian national, was on vacation with her family in Malaysia and was scheduled to return home before the incident occurred.
Yesterday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil urged utility companies and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to map out all underground utilities to facilitate more efficient search and rescue efforts. He noted that the current approach involves guesswork before digging.
The Deputy Prime Minister also stated that such phenomena are not exclusive to Malaysia and can happen worldwide. He emphasised that sinkholes are unpredictable and can occur without warning. He expressed hope that advancements in technology could help prevent or detect such incidents earlier in the future.
