The Straits Times | Singapore sinkhole: Rare risk or real worry - video Dailymotion

The Star

The Straits Times spoke with Dr Muhammad Nawaz, a senior lecturer in Geography at the National University of Singapore, to discuss the recent incident of the Tanjong Katong sinkhole in Singapore.  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00I drive past roadworks almost every day and recently this happened.

00:09And it's got me thinking, are sinkholes that common?

00:12Should I be scared?

00:13Okay, let's ask someone.

00:15Sinkholes are relatively uncommon in Singapore.

00:19They are hugely linked to highly specific conditions

00:22such as leakage from underground utilities,

00:25construction-related disturbances

00:27or natural subsidence in areas with less stable soils.

00:31Why and how did this happen and how long did it take to form?

00:35It looks like sudden but no.

00:37The Tanjong Katong sinkhole likely formed due to subsurface soil erosion

00:42that was caused by underground water leak,

00:44possibly from a damaged pipe or inadequate drainage.

00:48This silent erosion likely progressed over several weeks or months,

00:54eventually reaching to a point where the surface layer

00:57could no longer spot itself, leading to a collapse.

01:00Are there areas more vulnerable to sinkholes in Singapore?

01:04Singapore's natural geology, dominated by granite and sedimentary rock,

01:08made widespread sinkhole occurrence unlikely.

01:12But human-induced factors like construction, tunneling or drainage issues

01:17can occasionally trigger ground subsidence.

01:21Is there really any cause for concern?

01:24There is some concern, but there is no need to be panicked.

01:28Singapore has strict building regulations,

01:31regular inspections and responsive infrastructure monitoring

01:35that help minimise risks.

01:38Okay, so it is not that common, but it can still happen.

01:42Prof Nawa suggested that we should watch out for signs such as

01:46sunken ground, water seepage, new cracks or sudden ground depressions.

01:51If you see any of these signs, avoid the area and report it to the authorities immediately.

01:56Prof Nawa said about the verse theoretically

01:57we should say we´re doing the same show as we emerge

02:10and see evidence of the assumnel and whatof bankers schools cannot take place unexpectedly.

02:12But I don't know if that's easy.

02:15When I was getting into this story, I was with people in the differentarency

The Straits Times | Singapore sinkhole: Rare risk or real worry

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