Sinkhole incident: Strong undercurrents hamper divers from reaching detected object

KUALA LUMPUR: The search and rescue operation this morning was tense and full of anticipation as two firemen went down the sewage channel at the site of the sinkhole incident along Jalan Masjid India.

They dove into the sewage tunnel to find the Indian woman who has been missing since last Friday (Aug 23).

Based on observations at the location, two firemen from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Diving Team (PPDA), fully equipped with scuba gear, were seen descending into the hole at 3.06am. They were closely watched by SAR team members.

The diving process was carried out after JBPM detected an obstacle on Wednesday (Aug 28): an object stuck between the clear soil and the second sewer, located approximately 80 metres away.

However, less than half an hour later, the two firemen were seen being pulled up using a rope. They climbed back out of the hole with the help of other team members before being decontaminated and cleaned.

Bernama was told that both divers were extracted because they could not get close to the location where the object is believed to have stuck due to strong undercurrents in the sewage tunnel.

Until 4.30 am this morning, JBPM had not made an official media statement.

On Wednesday, JBPM Deputy Director General (Operations) Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman said his team detected an obstacle in the form of an object stuck between the location of the clear land and the second sewage tunnel located approximately 80 metres away from the site.

He said the object was detected by two Detection Unit (K9) dogs, Denti and Frankie, who were brought down to the scene of the incident last Tuesday (Aug 27), and cameras.

Following the discovery, water and sewage were pumped out with the assistance of eight divers and 75 members who operated the machinery and logistics.

On Friday, a woman, identified as Vijayalaksmi , 48, from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India fell into an eight-metre deep hole and went missing while the SAR operation continues for the seventh day today. – Bernama