Divers stop searching for missing woman, 48 who disappeared down 26ft sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur and left only her slippers behind because hunt is ‘too risky’
Divers have called off the search for a missing woman who disappeared in a 26-foot sinkhole more than a week ago, saying it was “too risky” to send help any longer.
The tragedy has shocked Malaysia. More than 100 rescuers were called to rescue the 48-year-old woman. She disappeared, leaving only her slippers behind, when a pavement collapsed.
Vijaya Lakshmi Gali fell into a hole in Kuala Lumpur on August 23 and was probably swept away by a strong underground water current through the sewer.
Two divers struggled with the current in the sewer when they entered the water around 4 a.m. local time on Friday, the fire department said.
It proved impossible, extremely difficult, to remove the congealed [debris] “They look like concrete blocks,” Director-General Nor Hisham Mohammad told reporters.
Footage shows Vijaya Lakshmi walking on the sidewalk as usual before the collapse occurred
Suddenly the ground opens up, causing her to fall in while others narrowly avoid a similar fate
Malaysian Fire and Rescue Service officers inspect the scene where a woman fell into an eight-metre deep sinkhole
Rescue operations started immediately (photo: August 23), but made no progress
Rescue workers tried to break through the hardened rubble underground using high-pressure water jets, iron hooks and ropes, but without success.
‘Even [when we tried] by pulling on it with ropes, involving up to eight people, [it] was not successful,” Mohammad said Friday, before the search was called off.
“There are several factors that require the operation to be stopped, including the safety and health of rescue personnel,” said Dr Zaliha Mustafa, minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Ms Lakshmi, a tourist from Andhra Pradesh, was reportedly on her way to a nearby temple with her family when the ground suddenly collapsed beneath her.
Ms Lakshmi and her family are believed to have been in Malaysia for about two months and were due to fly home on Sunday.
Terrifying footage shows the moment the 48-year-old woman walks down the sidewalk and suddenly disappears.
CCTV footage shows how others sitting on a nearby bench narrowly avoided falling on the woman.
An initial search by Malaysian rescue teams found Ms Lakshmi’s shoes but no other traces of her have been found, the Telegraph reported.
Excavators were later photographed at the scene, while rescue workers used sniffer dogs and robotic cameras to explore the underground network.
Authorities have now arranged for a care worker to be sent to the woman’s family members, including her husband and son.
The shopping area, known for its goldsmiths and jewelers, is about a 10-minute drive from the city’s Petronas Towers.
Just one day later, another sinkhole appeared 50 meters away.
A geologist told local newspaper Malaysiakini it was likely related to the search.
According to authorities, a similar landslide was reported at the same location last year.
Crowds gather as wait continues for missing woman in Malaysia
Rescue efforts continue into the night as fire rescue teams inspect the sinkhole
Excavators were later photographed at the crime scene, while rescue workers used sniffer dogs and robotic cameras to explore the underground network
An initial search by Malaysian rescue teams found Ms Lakshmi’s shoes, but no other traces of her were found.
Ms Lakshmi, a tourist from Andhra Pradesh, was reportedly on her way to a nearby temple with her family when the ground suddenly collapsed beneath her.
Just a day later, another sinkhole appeared 50 meters away. A geologist told local newspaper Malaysiakini that it was likely related to the search operations. (Pictured: New hole on August 28)
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif has assured that the city is safe and has set up a task force to inspect sewage pipes in the area.
Experts warn that Ms Lakshmi could be swept away by the strong current if she falls into the sewage water.
Datuk G Parameswaran, chairman of the Malaysian Water and Wastewater Quality Safety Association, told The Straits Times: “Sewage is also very rough and the flow has a minimum velocity of one metre per second.
‘Theoretically, she could have covered a distance of 86.4 km in 24 hours.’