Many new sinkholes appear after continuous downpour

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WHILE the people of Thailand are contending with massive floods in their country, the incessant rain is also wreaking havoc in Kampar.

The short but intense bouts of rain have weighed down the soil and led to sinkholes appearing in numerous locations in the town, posing a danger to motorists and pedestrians.

Flood woes: Incessant rain wreaking havoc in Jalan Batu Sinar.

Taman Bandar Baru Jaya resident Woo Yuen Soon, 43, found a sinkhole measuring 10cm in diametre at the entrance to his house in Jalan Jaya 2.

“About five sinkholes just appeared all over the housing area overnight,” he said.

Although immediate action was taken, Woo said Kampar District Council (MDKpr) workers had only patched up the hole near his house with asphalt.

“Chances are the ground will sink again soon since they did not mend it with concrete filling,” he said.

Big cracks: Ng (front) and Kampar MP Datuk Lee Chee Leong’s special assistant Alex Woo Kam Choon inspecting the collapse drain wall beside the Daoji Temple.

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman student Chai Won Yap, 19, is worried that motorcyclists and cyclists might be caught unaware and plunge into the sinkholes.

“Water collects in sinkholes and the hole is barely visible when covered with muddy floodwaters,” he said.

In Kampar new town and Taman Bandar Baru, at least three sinkholes have appeared in each of the housing area last week.

The rain had also caused the concrete wall and drain outside the Daoji Temple to collapse.

Temple caretaker Chan Sai Kan, 61, said gushing rainwater had first caused a big crack to appear in the drain outside the temple.

The 12-year-old temple is located at a corner house in Jalan Perak in Taman Bandar Baru.

“I followed the line of the crack and to my shock, discovered that the front corner section of the temple is built on hollow ground.

“I would not have known this if not for the crack that appeared,” he said, adding that a statue of Guan Yin Goddess weighing about 10kg was built on top of the hollow ground.

Councillor Ng Wah Leng said the wall collapse at the temple and the sinkholes that had appeared around Kampar, must be looked into immediately as they posed a danger to the public.

“I am afraid that efforts to fill up and cover the sinkholes may be hampered by the continuous rain,” she said.