KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 – There were no new cracks detected after two areas collapsed in the tunnel at the Jalan Imbi-Pudu intersection Wednesday.Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) assistant operations director Azizan Ismail said here today, the operation was now focusing on strengthening the site around the tunnel.
“This morning we started filling sand and piled metal rods around the cave-in areas to strengthen the wall of the area,” he told reporters when met at the location of the incident, here Thursday.
He also said the two-inch water pipe which burst yesterday had been sealed and it did not affect water supply to consumers in Kuala Lumpur.”There is no water supply disruption as the pipe is not connected to commercial network,” he said.Azizan said Bomba also found a gas pipe belonging to Gas Malaysia under the tunnel but no leakage was detected.
Meanwhile, he said monorail service at the Jalan Imbi route was still suspended until a study by engineers was completed.”The engineers have placed sensors to check the strength of the monorail track affected by the cave-in.”We are still waiting for their study to know whether the monorail track could be used or not,” he said.
In the same development, Azizan said traffic in Jalan Imbi was under control as motorists had begun using suggested alternative routes.In the 9.30 am incident, a section of the tunnel structure at the junction caved in five metres deep, believed to be due to a burst underground water pipe.
Earlier, Kuala Lumpur City Hall Project Implementation and Maintenance deputy director-general Datuk Mohd Najib Mohd said the tunnel area would be closed for two weeks for repair works.There were no casualties reported in the incident.
– BERNAMA
