KUALA LUMPUR: The search and rescue team is conducting manual shoring work as a safety precaution while attempting to locate a foreign woman who was swallowed by the sinkhole in Jalan Masjid India here on Aug 23.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) media unit in a statement today said the operations were carried out by the Fire and Rescue Department's Special Tactical Operations and Rescue Team (Storm).
"Today marks the seventh day (since the incident occurred) and the team is still continuing the work of searching and rescuing the victim, near Jalan Masjid India," it said.
Meanwhile, it said Indah Water Konsortium was currently working to pump water out of the manhole to reduce water pressure and risks.
It said this would allow divers to conduct physical inspections inside the manhole.
Despite a week of searching, there are still no signs of 48-year-old Indian tourist G. Vijaya Lakshmi, who fell into the sinkhole.
The authorities were searching along a 7km sewage line, which can be assessed from six manholes.
However, only one rescuer, in full protective equipment, can be sent in at a time so as to avoid the danger posed by toxic gases from the sewer.
The six manholes are 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.
To date, rescuers here could only find a pair of slippers belonging to the woman from India, near the location.