A thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of a sinkhole that appeared along Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim in Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee Chairman, Zairil Khir Johari said monitoring and inspection works at the site are ongoing, with relevant agencies assessing the extent of the damage and ensuring public safety.

He said the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) and Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) have been dispatched to the site to carry out detailed checks on their respective underground piping systems to identify whether a structural failure may have contributed to the incident.

“As an early mitigation measure, plastic barriers have been installed and the affected road remains temporarily closed. Traffic is being redirected via Jalan Sungai Ara 1, Jalan Persiaran Relau and Jalan Kedidi,” he said in a statement today.

Zairil acknowledged that the road closure has disrupted local traffic flow and appealed for patience and cooperation from road users in the area while the authorities work to address the issue promptly.

He added that all relevant agencies are working diligently to resolve the problem as quickly as possible in the interest of public safety.

Earlier, images and videos of the sinkhole located near a road junction went viral on social media, prompting concern among residents over the structural integrity of roads in the area.

The sinkhole, which formed in front of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sungai Ara, measured approximately five metres long, 3.5 metres wide and 1.9 metres deep, raising fears of potential danger to motorists and pedestrians.

The public has been urged to remain cautious and avoid the affected area until repair works are fully completed.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE