Kuala Lumpur Grapples with Sinkholes, Suspends New Development Projects
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A series of sinkhole incidents in KualaLumpur over the past week, including one that swallowed an Indian tourist, has prompted Malaysian authorities to take action. On August 28, the government announced asuspension of new development project approvals in the city, while repeatedly assuring the public that Kuala Lumpur remains safe.
The most alarming incident occurred on August23, when a sinkhole measuring eight meters deep opened up on Jalan Masjid India, a bustling street in the city center. A female Indian tourist who was walking by fell into the chasm and has been missing since. Search and rescue efforts, now in their seventh day, have yielded no results, with police suspecting the tourist may have been swept away by underground water currents. The Kuala Lumpur City Hall issued a statement on August 29, confirming their continued collaboration with police, fire department, civil defense, and geological survey teams until the missing tourist is found.
Following the initial incident, Kuala Lumpur witnessed several more sinkhole occurrences. On August 26, a sidewalk collapsed due to a broken drainage system, causing a sinkhole. Another sinkhole opened up in the early hours ofAugust 28, near the site of the initial incident. Fortunately, neither of these subsequent events resulted in casualties.
The Director General of the Malaysian Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG) attributed the sinkholes to the presence of limestone beneath approximately 30% of Kuala Lumpur’s surface. He explainedthat these areas are susceptible to sinkholes when underground pipes break or water flow patterns change, due to both human and natural factors.
In response to the escalating situation, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Federal Territories, Datuk Seri Dr. Shahidan Kassim, announced the suspension of new development project approvalsin Kuala Lumpur until a special task force, established to address the issue, begins its operations. Dr. Shahidan emphasized that future approvals for new development projects will be subject to stricter scrutiny.
The JMG Director General also revealed that the government is utilizing radar equipment to conduct underground surveys in an attempt to identify existing cavitiesand prevent future sinkholes.
Despite the recent incidents, Dr. Shahidan and the JMG Director General have repeatedly stressed that Kuala Lumpur remains a safe city. They maintained that the safety of existing buildings and infrastructure can be ensured through rigorous maintenance and inspection.
The sinkhole incidents have raised concerns about the city’s infrastructure and the potential risks associated with rapid development. While authorities are taking steps to address the issue, the public remains anxious about the safety of the city and the long-term implications of the sinkholes.
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