Search for victim now confined to sewage plant

PETALING JAYA The search and rescue operation for a missing Indian tourist, Ms Vijayalaksmi, has been halted at the sinkhole site in Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur, but will continue at the Pantai Dalam IWK sewage plant, said Malaysia's Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

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JBPM director-general Nor Hisham Mohamad said the decision was made after findings revealed that it was too risky to continue search and rescue activities using scuba-diving methods.

Risk factors included strong underground water currents, limited space for rescuers and the presence of debris and hard blockages, Datuk Nor Hisham was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama.

He added that while observing the search effort at 4am on Aug 30, he was concerned about the safety of divers who had to lie flat and crawl through a narrow area.