KL sinkhole: Search for victim halted at Jalan Masjid India, continues at sewage plant
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Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department officers inspecting the site where a woman fell into an 8m-deep sinkhole on Aug 23.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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PETALING JAYA – The search and rescue operation for a missing Indian tourist,
JBPM director-general Nor Hisham Mohamad said the decision was made after findings revealed that it was too risky to continue search and rescue activities using scuba-diving methods
Risk factors included strong underground water currents, limited space for rescuers and the presence of debris and hard blockages, Datuk Nor Hisham was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama.
He added that while observing the search effort at 4am on Aug 30, he was concerned about the safety of divers who had to lie flat and crawl through a narrow area.
“When we saw the entry point, which was about two feet (60cm) wide, we were really worried that they might get stuck.
“There was a ‘piston effect’ from the water, making it impossible for them to retreat, which is very dangerous,” he said, as quoted by Bernama.
Mr Nor Hisham said the fire department would suggest alternative methods to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Zaliha Mustafa and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall at a meeting on the afternoon of Aug 30 to determine the direction of search efforts.
“Besides posing a high risk to scuba divers, there are also obstructions difficult for divers to navigate,” he said.
Immediately after arriving at the Pantai Dalam IWK sewage plant at 8.40am, members of the search and rescue team, consisting of the JBPM and workers from Indah Water Konsortium (IWK, the waste management company serving Kuala Lumpur), were seen discussing their plan.
A Fire Rescue Tender and a JBPM van were also there, along with nearly 10 firefighters preparing to carry out their duties.
Separately, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Aug 30 gave the assurance that tourists visiting Kuala Lumpur need not worry, as “it is safe”. Datuk Seri Anwar, during a visit to Penang, told reporters that a geotechnical study had established the cause of the incident and found that it was safe.
He said that any areas considered at risk of turning into sinkholes should be dealt with right away, adding that Dr Zaliha should monitor those areas closely.
On Aug 23, Ms Vijayalaksmi was walking on a pavement with her family when she fell and disappeared into the 8m-deep sinkhole.
A search and rescue operation was activated on the same day, involving personnel from various security forces and local authorities, who employed multiple techniques, including jetting, flushing and water suction to clear the incident site. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
