With the ongoing inclement weather and frequent rain warnings from MetMalaysia, many people are concerned about the possibility of major floods, landslides, and sinkholes.
Recently, a video went viral on messaging apps showing a massive sinkhole swallowing up a road in front of a tunnel. The caption claimed that the tunnel in question was the Bentong Tunnel and that it had been closed due to the collapse.
However, is this claim true?
Verdict:
FALSE
The Bentong police have confirmed that claims of floods along the Kuala Lumpur Karak Expressway and the collapse of the road leading into the Bentong tunnel are false.
According to Bentong OCPD Supt Zaiham Mohd Kahar, while two videos circulating regarding these incidents, no such events have occurred.
“One of the videos claiming floods along the highway actually happened in Dec 2021,” Supt Zaiham said. “The other video of the road collapse in front of a tunnel is believed to have occurred in another country.”
He also pointed out that the entrance of the Bentong tunnel is identifiable by a billboard with images of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Pemangku Raja Pahang, which were not present in the viral video.
Supt Zaiham reassured the public that if such an incident did occur, an official statement would be issued immediately by the police or the respective highway concessionaires.