Tourist Vanishes in Kuala Lumpur Sinkhole: Rescue Efforts Continue
A visitor from India has been missing for five days after falling into a sinkhole in central Kuala Lumpur. Rescue teams are expanding their search area as concerns grow for her safety.
In a distressing incident in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, a tourist has been missing for five days after falling into a sinkhole that suddenly opened on a busy shopping street. Vijaya Lakshmi, a 48-year-old visitor from India, disappeared after plummeting 26 feet (7.9 meters) beneath the pavement.
Rescue efforts have been ongoing since the incident occurred. Teams have employed ground-penetrating radar technology to search for signs of Lakshmi, but have only recovered her shoes thus far. The search area has been expanded to include tunnels leading to a sewage plant approximately 7 kilometers away, following the discovery of a broken concrete pipe beneath the sinkhole.
The incident was captured on CCTV, showing Lakshmi walking along the pavement when the ground suddenly collapsed beneath her. Nearby pedestrians narrowly avoided being pulled in as well. This occurrence has raised concerns about urban development and its impact on underground structures in Kuala Lumpur, a city founded in 1857 at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.
Experts have theorized that Lakshmi could have been carried by fast-flowing sewage water. Datuk G Parameswaran, president of the Malaysian Water and Wastewater Quality Safety Association, stated:
Rescue workers have deployed high-powered water jets to clear debris in manholes near the incident site. However, the presence of toxic gases in the sewage system, which can include hydrogen sulfide, methane, and carbon monoxide, has diminished hopes for Lakshmi's survival.
The incident occurred on Jalan Masjid India, a street known for its goldsmiths and jewelers, located about a 10-minute drive from the iconic Petronas Towers. Lakshmi and her family had been in Malaysia for approximately two months and were scheduled to return home on the Sunday following the incident.
City authorities, led by Mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif, have attempted to reassure residents about the safety of Kuala Lumpur. However, concerns were heightened when another sinkhole appeared on the same street just 50 meters away from the first, following heavy rainfall. In response, a task force has been established to investigate the incidents, involving experts from various departments including minerals and geosciences, police, and public works.
As rescue efforts continue, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by rapidly developing urban areas and the importance of maintaining underground infrastructure in cities like Kuala Lumpur, which experiences heavy rainfall throughout the year due to its tropical climate.
