Rescuers in Kuala Lumpur deployed ground penetrating radar on Aug 27 as search efforts continued for a woman who fell into a sinkhole near the Pantai Dalam treatment plant, located 7km away. The victim’s son, Mr M Suria, 25, last spoke to his mother on the phone at 1.30am on the day of the incident, just after getting a tattoo of her name on his arm. He rushed to Kuala Lumpur from Thailand when informed by his brother-in-law. Meanwhile, businesses in the Masjid India area reported a significant decline in business as locals and tourists avoided the area.
Residents in sinkhole-prone areas like Brickfields called on authorities to publish the city’s underground mapping system to keep informed about the infrastructure beneath their neighborhoods. On Aug 28, another sinkhole opened up on Jalan Masjid India, just 50m from where the first incident occurred. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the authorities closed a 400m stretch of the road, leaving footpaths open. Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof announced plans for an “integrity audit” of the sewerage system along Jalan Masjid India once search efforts concluded.
Federal Territories Minister Zaliha confirmed that approval for new construction in Kuala Lumpur has been temporarily halted in response to the incidents. Kuala Lumpur City Hall also decided to cancel its Merdeka Eve celebrations on Aug 30 out of respect for the victim who fell into the sinkhole. The celebration was initially slated to be held at Merdeka Square, just a few hundred meters from the site of the sinkhole.
