KUALA LUMPUR: "We will not give up, as long as there is still a way."
These were the words of Senior Fire Superintendent I, Alimaddia Bukri, from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) operations division.
He said the firefighters involved were determined to find the victim of the sinkhole incident in Jalan Masjid India.
Alimaddia said that the rescue team's main goal was to find the victim.
"We appreciate the concern of the public for the firefighters, but our primary objective is to find her.
"We will try our best," he told Sinar Harian yesterday.
Alimaddia said the safety of all personnel was his team's responsibility.
"We can't allow too many personnel to enter 'ground zero' due to the dangers involved," he said.
Last Sunday, firefighters had to dive into sewage water and battle strong currents, limited visibility, and narrow access, making movement, and the search for the victim, difficult.
After each dive, the team undergoes a laborious decontamination process to prevent any potential hazards or diseases from spreading.
The firefighters also use breathing apparatus and personal protective equipment.
Last Friday, a 48-year-old Indian woman named Vijayaletchumy went missing after falling into an 8m-deep sinkhole in Jalan Masjid India.