Sinkhole near mall at Jln Tun Jugah may have been caused by gutter downpipe leak, says Uggah

KUCHING (Oct 31): Initial findings suggest that the sinkhole by the roadside near a mall at Jalan Tun Jugah here may have been caused by a leak from a rain gutter downpipe connected to the mall’s car park, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

The findings of the state Public Works Department (JKR) indicated that the sinkhole was relatively shallow, measuring approximately 1.3 meters by 1.7 meters with a depth of 0.75 meters, he said in a statement today following a briefing session of the preliminary assessment.

He said during a visual inspection, JKR Sarawak noted that the surrounding road base material appeared loose and moist.

“Investigators identified an underground drainage system beneath the footpath adjacent to the sinkhole, with a manhole cover located approximately two meters from the site,” he said.

The surface repair on the sinkhole was completed within a few hours, even yesterday, he added.

He noted that the sinkhole was first reported yesterday prompting immediate action from local authorities.

Following the initial report, the state Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development directed JKR Sarawak to investigate the incident and backfill the sinkhole with appropriate materials to restore the surface and mitigate risks to road users.

On that note, Uggah has mandated the formation of an investigation committee comprising senior officials from JKR Sarawak to conduct a thorough examination and assess the potential for additional sinkhole occurrences in the vicinity.

The investigation committee, through JKR Sarawak’s Research Centre, will employ Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) technology to conduct a detailed investigation and ensure there are no additional sinkholes beneath the roadway.

This comprehensive analysis is scheduled to be completed by this Nov 15, Uggah pointed out.