GEORGE TOWN, September 23 – Repair works on a burst sewage pipe that caused a sinkhole along Burmah Road are expected to take five days, with the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) directing Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) to carry out repairs at night to ease daytime traffic.
The 13-metre stretch of damaged pipe, originally installed in 1964, will be fully replaced after initial inspections revealed severe damage. Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the collapse, which began as a leak on Saturday, forced partial road closures and traffic snarls near the busy Komtar area.
In response to the incident, Rajendran also ordered a citywide audit of ageing sewer pipelines to prevent future failures, noting that many were built decades ago and now face higher risks of cracking or dislocation.
Wastewater experts have warned that old pipes, typically designed to last 50 to 70 years, require urgent maintenance to avoid similar disruptions. Despite the estimated five-day timeline, MBPP has urged IWK to accelerate works given the impact on residents and businesses in George Town.
