BUKIT MERTAJAM – Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will continue to closely monitor the Jalan Masjid India area where a sinkhole swallowed a woman, who is a tourist from India, last Friday, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He also said a technical study of the sinkhole at the incident site was conducted by the relevant parties.
“I have passed through the area and there are no issues, but the areas deemed necessary to be reinforced will be done immediately, and DBKL will monitor it closely every day,” he said.
He told reporters this after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Jamek Kubang Semang today.
Anwar also dismissed claims by certain parties that the incident had caused concern among the public and foreign tourists.
On August 23, an Indian national identified as Vijaya Lakshmi, 48, disappeared after falling into an 8m-deep sinkhole while on her way to a nearby temple.
She has not been found and the search for her is now in its eighth day today, with Fire and Rescue Department personnel facing great difficulty in accessing the underground sewerage channels.
Fire Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad earlier today said it had become too risky to conduct the search using diving methods due to factors such as strong water currents, limited space for rescuers as well as a massive amount of debris and blockages.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi meanwhile said efforts are underway to identify specific areas that are at high risk of sinkholes.
Nanta said the matter was discussed by the cabinet, which agreed that science, technology, and artificial intelligence be used to address and prevent such incidents. – August 30, 2024