Following yesterday’s sudden road collapse on Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has announced that the Jalan Imbi – Jalan Pudu – Jalan Hang Tuah intersection will be closed to traffic for the next two weeks, in order to facilitate repair operations.
DBKL Project Implementation and Maintenance deputy director-general Datuk Mohd Najib Mohd told press at the scene of the incident yesterday evening that repairs were already being carried out.
At approximately 9.38am, a section of a 35-metre underground tunnel being excavated to build a four-lane underpass collapsed following soil settlement.
KL Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Azizan Ismail said there were two soil movements detected in the area, at 9.30am and once again at 12.20pm yesterday.
“We fear there may be more cave-ins along the tunnel,” he said, as reported by Bernama.
A pipe belonging to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) also broke during yesterday’s road collapse. The Fire and Rescue Department has requested Syabas to turn off the water supply flowing through the pipe to avoid worsening the loose soil situation.
“As a temporary safety measure, the contractor is now pumping water out from the site before piling work could be carried out to strengthen the area,” he said.
The Fire and Rescue Department is also waiting for an investigation report from KL Monorail operator Syarikat Prasarana Negara to determine the integrity and operational safety of the nearby monoroail support pillars in the area.
The Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) preemptively released a statement yesterday denying any involvement or complicity in the incident, despite the large volume of construction work in the city undertaken by the company.
See Also:
Section of Jalan Imbi collapses due to tunnelling work
MRT Corp: Jalan Imbi road collapse had nothing to do with us
Photos: the Jalan Imbi road collapse in memes – because why not
Photo: The Malay Mail
