KUALA LUMPUR: The sinkhole incidents that recently affected areas near Jalan Masjid India are expected to continue occurring in the future, a geological engineering and geohazard expert said.
Dr. Goh Thian Lai, who is the Society for Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics Malaysia president, said this was based on the aging drainage systems in the city.
"The sinkhole problem, caused by human factors, will continue due to the old drainage systems in the city.
"The possibility of these aged pipes breaking, leaking, and being compounded by tunnelling activities and natural factors, makes the incidents more severe," he said.
As such, he urged authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the infrastructure and piping systems in a coordinated manner to develop both short-term and long-term solutions to address the issue.
"Information such as mapping areas according to the risk levels of sinkholes is crucial in helping the government and technical committees identify the necessary actions for maintenance or repairs in affected areas.
"However, a more detailed assessment, including technical evaluations, is needed since the current information is primarily based on the assumption that the underlying rock is limestone.
"Not all limestone formations are hazardous. The sections of limestone that have the potential to form sinkholes are those that are cavernous.
"If there is a high risk, such as a building situated on hollow ground, signs or symptoms indicating the impact of this activity, like cracks or fractures in the structure, will appear," he said.