Sinkhole incident: Six manholes opened in stages during expanded SAR op, say cops

KUALA LUMPUR: The search and rescue (SAR) operation has been expanded to include six manholes near the sinkhole location where 48-year-old Vijayaletchumy from South India fell.

Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said the manholes are located at Wisma Yakin, Jalan Melayu, junction to Jalan Melayu, Dataran Merdeka and Bank Pertanian near Lebuh Pasar and Jalan Kinabalu.

“At 10.30am today, a fireman went down into the manhole in front of Wisma Yakin but he did not find the victim or any leads.

“We are in the midst of searching the second manhole on Jalan Melayu. Let’s pray that we will find the victim,” he told reporters at the scene on Saturday (Aug 24).

ACP Sulizmie Affendy said the search at the manholes have to be done in stages, to limit the risk to rescuers.

“For safety reasons, we can only lower one fireman for each manhole.

“The first manhole near Wisma Yakin is about 100m from the sinkhole and each other manhole is about 100m apart from each other,” he said.

ALSO READ: Currents hinder search for woman

He reminded those around the SAR areas to give their full cooperation to the authorities.

“We also advise visitors and traders near the manholes to avoid the locations for the time being as we don’t want them to inhale any poisonous gas from the sewage system,” he said.

ACP Sulizmie Affendy said rescuers are using every expertise and technology available.

“We are also getting assistance from other agencies as well.

“We will consider the use of other tech if the news arises,” he said.

While yesterday the K9 unit was deployed, he said the unit was not used today as yesterday’s search (using the K9 unit) did not yield any positive result.

On Friday (Aug 23) morning, the victim was walking with her family when a piece of the pavement near Malayan Mansion caved in, plunging her into the sinkhole.