Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The search for a 48-year-old Indian tourist who fell into an 8-meter-deep sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur's city center has entered its third day as of Sunday, August 25.
Incident Overview
The woman was walking on a sidewalk on Friday morning when the ground suddenly gave way beneath her, causing her to fall into the sinkhole. This unexpected incident triggered an immediate search-and-rescue operation.
Search Efforts
The rescue mission faced challenges and had to pause on Saturday evening due to a lack of new information. However, efforts resumed on Sunday morning. The authorities have been inspecting six manholes from Jalan Masjid India, where the incident occurred, to a sewerage pond in Pantai Dalam. So far, they have not found any signs of the missing woman, except for a pair of slippers believed to belong to her.
Government Response
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his condolences to the family and instructed the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to meet with them to offer support. "The search-and-rescue mission continues. There are still issues with the soil that we need to address," he told reporters.
Ongoing Challenges
According to officials from the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department, the sewerage system's water level in the area is relatively low, but the water is flowing rapidly, complicating search efforts.
Family's Involvement
Family members of the missing woman have been present at the scene since early Sunday morning. The victim’s son was briefed about the day’s search operations by rescue officials.
Investigation into Cause
Zaliha Mustafa, the Minister in charge of federal territories, stated in a media conference on Saturday that the cause of the sinkhole is still unknown. Authorities are awaiting a comprehensive report from relevant agencies, which will be available after the rescue operation concludes.
Preventive Measures
To prevent future incidents, the minister mentioned that there would be a re-mapping of the area. Authorities, including the Department of Minerals and Geosciences, will conduct thorough investigations to ensure the safety of Kuala Lumpur, particularly in areas around the sinkhole site.
The search efforts continue as the authorities strive to find the missing tourist and determine the cause of this tragic incident.
