IN THE age of viral videos, it's easy for speculation to spiral out of control.
Recently, footage emerged showing a cement cover rising and falling near a busy street in Masjid India, causing public alarm.
With memories of the recent sinkhole tragedy still fresh, is another sinkhole forming in this bustling area, or is the footage being misinterpreted?
Verdict:
FALSE
There is no new sinkhole forming in Masjid India. The concerns arose from a viral video near the site of a past incident.
This video led to widespread fears of a potential recurrence of the sinkhole event from August that resulted in the unfortunate death of Indian national, G. Vijayalakshmi, who fell into an 8m-deep sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India.
The recent video, shared on X by @update11111, shows a cement cover near Jalan Masjid India moving on its own, alarming viewers.
The movement was misinterpreted as a warning sign of another sinkhole.
The footage also showed nearby street stalls and pedestrians, amplifying public concern about safety in the area.
However, in a statement on Facebook on Saturday (Oct 5), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said the metal manhole cover over the space had been removed, possibly by vandals.
The makeshift cement cover was placed over it.
DBKL then clarified that Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) has since replaced the missing manhole cover.
It urged the public not to share content that could incite unnecessary panic and anxiety and stressed the importance of verifying facts before spreading information, especially concerning incidents like the tragedy in Masjid India.
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