Families escape injuries as sinkhole damages homes

Shaky ground: The damage from the sinkhole which occurred in Kampung Pengkalan Gate Tambahan Dua near Ipoh.

IPOH: Four families cheated death when a five-metre deep sinkhole damaged three houses in Kampung Pengkalan Gate Tambahan Dua near here.

The sinkhole, which appeared at about 3.30am yesterday, swallowed part of the floor of one of the houses and damaged the walls and floors of the two other homes.

Former Ipoh City Council worker G. Sandaran, 64, said his son’s house was the worst hit.

“The walls are cracked and the right side of the house has sunken into the ground,” he told reporters.

Sandaran said he heard sounds of wood being broken and thought that a thief was trying to break into the house.

“I was shocked to see the cracks on the wall. I quickly moved my motorcycle away and while I was pushing it, the floor began to give way,” he added.

Sandaran said despite his loss, he felt fortunate that his 30-year-old son’s family and his grandchild were not in when it happened.

“I told them to stay elsewhere after my late wife’s funeral five days ago,” he said.

Lorry driver P. Premkumar, 39, whose house was also hit, said he woke up after he felt his bed shaking.

“I heard planks being snapped and then the shouts of neighbours asking us to get out of the house,” he said.

Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue Department chief Zainasri Zainal said five more sinkholes with depths of between one-and- a-half to two metres also occurred near the houses. He said these were believed to be caused by underground water movements.

Zainasri said an area covering a radius of a hectare had been cordoned off, adding that firemen were on standby to help with the evacuation of the residents from their homes and to ensure their safety.

“The National Public Works Institute and the city council will check on the stability of the terrain,” he said, adding that the affected families had been moved to a temporary shelter at a nearby Kemas hall.