KOTA BARU: The sinkhole incident at Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, does not require the authorities to gazette the area as an unsafe zone.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, however, stated that a 50-metre area between the first and second sinkhole incidents has been closed to the public.
"I have ordered the Dang Wangi police to close all chambers and paths along the 50-metre route.
"The sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India is not classified as a disaster that would require the authorities to declare it an unsafe zone.
"However, the actions carried out by the police and other agencies such as the fire and rescue department, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), and members of the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) are almost similar to those we take during a disaster.
"There is an operation control centre and other facilities set up near the site," he said.
Razarudin said this at a press conference after witnessing the handover of the state police chief's post at the Kelantan police contingent today.
Yesterday, a second sinkhole appeared at Jalan Masjid India, and the road has been cordoned off in front of Wisma Haniffa.
Last Friday, a woman tourist identified as Vijayalaksmi, 48, from Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh, India, fell into an 8-metre-deep hole and disappeared.