Sinkhole shock for four families in Ipoh

One of the sinkholes at occurred outside the houses

 IPOH: Four families escaped an incident of sinkholes in Kampung Pengkalan Gate Tambahan Dua, in Pengkalan at 3.30am on Saturday.

The first case in Perak this year, the sinkholes caused a five-metre deep crack developing inside a wooden house which extended outside in Laluan Lahat Timur 2/5 in the village.

Two houses each on the left and right side of house were also damaged, with cracks appearing on the floors and walls.

The families with 18 residents are now placed at a Kemas (Community Development Department) hall, located near their homes.

G. Sandaran, 64, a former Ipoh City Council employee, said his son, 31-year-old S. Anbakalan's house, located on the left of his unit, was badly damaged in the incident.

He said he heard what sounded like wood breaking and thought that thieves were trying to break into his house.

"When I came out, I saw the structure on the left side of my house had sunk.

"I immediately tried to shift my motorcycle and it was at that time the soil collapsed, causing the walls of two rooms in my house to crack and sink," he told reporters.

Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue Station chief Zainasri Zainal said five other sinkholes of 1.5m to 2m deep were found at the open space in front of the houses.

A one-hectare area affected by the sinkholes had been cordoned off and firemen were at the scene to ensure work to shift out the victims' belongings and to vacate their homes were carried out safely, he added. - Bernama