Utility Works Suspected Behind Wangsa Maju Sinkhole, Area Closed For Two Weeks - KL Mayor

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (Bernama) -- The sinkhole incident on Jalan Wangsa Delima 4 in Wangsa Maju yesterday is believed to have been caused by utility maintenance works rather than soil subsidence, according to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud said investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident, while the affected area would remain closed for two weeks for repair works.

Initial inspections found that a “sump” wall, or water retention structure, within the area’s main 1.5-metre drainage system had likely collapsed.

“We found that the sump wall had broken, but we could not locate where the structure fell. There are also utility lines beside the area, and it is possible that underground utility works using the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) method may have struck the structure without any visible signs on the surface.

“There is a possibility the work damaged the structure, causing it to crack and allowing drainage water to flow directly into the soil, eventually resulting in the sinkhole,” he told a press conference at DBKL headquarters today.

Also present were Federal Territories Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Hannah Yeoh and Federal Territories Department director-general Datuk Muhammad Azmi Mohd Zain.

Fadlun said the closed-off area measured about four metres in length, width and depth.

Meanwhile, he said another smaller sinkhole was detected yesterday near a bank along the pedestrian walkway on Jalan Tun Perak.

“The incident only involved a shallow hole about one foot deep and was not caused by utility issues,” he said.

On another development, the mayor said utility mapping works around Jalan Masjid India were nearly 90 per cent complete, covering a 32km stretch, while repairs to pedestrian walkways in the area are expected to begin in October, with DBKL set to install settlement markers at selected locations to monitor ground movement in real time.

“If any ground movement occurs, we will receive real-time readings so immediate action can be taken in the Masjid India area, from Semua House to Masjid India,” he said.

-- BERNAMA