In the Heart of Kuala Lumpur, a Woman in Her 40s Falls into a Sinkhole
Secondary Sinkhole Feared... Search Suspended
On the 23rd of last month, a female Indian tourist in her 40s fell into a sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [Photo by X Capture]
The Malaysian government has decided to halt the search for an Indian female tourist who went missing after a sinkhole incident in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, after 9 days.
According to foreign media including The Straits Times and AP News on the 2nd (local time), Malaysian authorities decided to stop the rescue operation for the 48-year-old Indian female tourist who went missing after falling into an 8-meter-deep sinkhole on the 23rd of last month, and to switch the operation from search to recovery. The reason given was that heavy rains caused flooding and there was an increased risk of additional sinkholes, making it impossible to guarantee the safety of the rescue team.
Earlier, on the morning of the 23rd of last month, a 48-year-old Indian female tourist walking on a sidewalk in downtown Kuala Lumpur suddenly fell into an 8-meter-deep sinkhole and went missing. CCTV footage from the area showed the woman walking with her group when a sidewalk block about 2 meters wide suddenly collapsed, causing her to fall. Local fire and rescue authorities searched underground but did not find the missing person.
On the 23rd of last month, a female Indian tourist in her 40s fell into a sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [Video source=X capture]
Police and fire authorities, upon receiving the rescue request, dispatched rescue personnel to the scene and began the search. Over 110 personnel were deployed over the past 9 days. They excavated the area around the sinkhole using excavators and washed away debris from drainage with high-pressure water jets to conduct underground searches. Detection dogs, remote cameras, and ground-penetrating radar were also utilized. However, they only managed to find a pair of slippers presumed to belong to the victim. A plan to send scuba divers into the sewage tunnel was also considered but was abandoned due to safety concerns. This was because a second sinkhole appeared just 50 meters from the accident site.
Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Rusdi Mohamad stated, "Strong underground water flow beneath the sinkhole likely swept the missing person away." It was also revealed that last year, soil had been washed away underground at the same location and had been restored.
The missing person had come here two months ago with her husband and friends to enjoy a vacation. The fact that the accident occurred just one day before her return home added to the sorrow. The victim's family held a Hindu religious ceremony at the accident site on the 1st and left for India that afternoon.
The incident also dealt a direct blow to Kuala Lumpur's tourism industry. Since the accident, sales of nearby merchants have dropped by 50-70%, and some are even considering closing their businesses to reduce losses.
Meanwhile, authorities forecast that "it will take about six months to restore the accident area and the search site."
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