“KL’s Hidden Danger: Are We Sitting on a Sinkhole Time Bomb?”

Source: New Straits Times

The recent sinkhole tragedy on Jalan Masjid India, where an Indian national was swallowed by the ground, has sent shockwaves through Kuala Lumpur. It’s a nightmare that feels all too real for residents of the bustling city.

Kuala Lumpur, it turns out, is built on a ticking time bomb—an area rich in limestone, known as a karst region. When this type of geology mixes with water, and add human activity into the mix, you’ve got a recipe for disaster. The limestone, being highly soluble, erodes easily with rainwater, leading to the formation of these deadly sinkholes. Despite reassurances from the newly appointed Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif that the city is safe and a study will be conducted, the fear remains.

But here’s the thing: these sinkholes aren’t just a Jalan Masjid India problem—they’re a Kuala Lumpur problem, and even bigger than that, they’re a nationwide issue. Dr. Nor Shahidah Mohd Nazer, an expert who spoke to the New Sunday Times, has long been advocating for the mapping and monitoring of sinkhole-prone areas, particularly in the densely populated Klang Valley.

Let’s be clear: sinkholes aren’t some mysterious abyss that we can’t understand. With the right tools, they’re both knowable and manageable. But first, we need a comprehensive map of all potential sinkhole areas in Malaysia—something that shockingly doesn’t exist yet. Right now, sinkholes seem to be more of an academic curiosity than a real-world concern.

But they should be much more than that. Given the danger they pose to lives and property, it’s time for policymakers to take this seriously, not just when a tragedy like Friday’s happens, but as a consistent part of urban planning. It’s crucial that we focus not just on the present dangers but also on the future ones.

One method for mapping these threats is ground-scanning technology to detect potential voids before they become deadly. Another approach, used at the Dead Sea, involves burying geophones to predict when and where sinkholes might appear. And while we’re at it, let’s not forget about the role of human activity—rapid, unchecked development has stressed the very ground our cities are built on.

Is this a case of too much too soon? Climate change, driven largely by human actions, has also contributed to the rise in sinkhole occurrences. While remediation and mitigation might help, we must be vigilant about how we develop our urban and rural areas. From now on, urban planning should consider not just the geology of an area but also its hydrology to prevent future disasters.

Are we prepared for what lies beneath?