KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities have two manholes left to check in their efforts to locate a woman who was swallowed by a sinkhole on Masjid India here yesterday.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said if necessary, the search may be expanded to other areas, including ponds in Pantai Dalam.
"If the victim is still not found, we will regroup and decide on the next steps. However) we cannot yet determine how long the rescue operation will take," she said in a press conference after visiting the incident location here today.
Also in attendance were Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, Indah Water Konsortium chief executive officer Narendran Maniam and Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Rozihan Anwar Mamat.
To provide emotional support to the victim's family, Dr Zaliha said the ministry will request counselling services from the Health Ministry to help stabilise their emotional well-being.
"I also visited the victim's family, who are waiting with great hope.
"To support them emotionally, we will request the Health Ministry to provide counselling services to help stabilise their condition.
"Meanwhile, the rest will be handled by the family members and their ambassadors. I was also informed that the ambassadors are playing a role in assisting the family," she said.
She also advised the public to avoid the cordoned-off area, which remains under control.
"The situation is under control, but we request everyone to maintain safety and stay clear of the incident area," she said.
Earlier, the authorities were searching along a 7km sewage line, which can be assessed from six manholes and one rescue personnel only in full protective equipment is sent in to avoid the danger posed by toxic gases from the sewer.
Sulizmie said personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department had already entered one manhole to search for the victim.
The six manholes were located in front of Wisma Yakin, in Jalan Melayu, at the Jalan Melayu intersection, in Dataran Merdeka, near Bank Pertanian Lebuh Pasar and in Bulatan Kinabalu.
The sinkhole, which appeared yesterday, caused an Indian national in her 40s to fall into the pit.
Rescuers here could only find a pair of slippers belonging to her near the location after almost 17 hours of searching yesterday.