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A woman was swallowed up by a sinkhole that collapsed under her this morning at 8.22am on Jalan Masjid India, in Kuala Lumpur.
A 48-year-old woman from India has been involved in a freak accident this morning when she fell into a massive sinkhole that unexpectedly opened up on a sidewalk along Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur.
The incident occurred at 8.22am today, sparking immediate concern and a large-scale rescue operation. Witnesses reported seeing the woman disappear into the gaping hole, leaving onlookers in shock.
The sinkhole was nearly 8 meters in depth, or around 3 storeys high
Image via Bernama
The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department mobilized a team to the scene to begin the search and rescue efforts. The sinkhole, measuring a daunting eight meters in depth, had swallowed both the woman and a nearby stone bench, making the rescue mission particularly challenging.
The department’s team realised that the woman was trapped within the underground water drainage system that had likely contributed to the sinkhole’s formation. As the hours passed, the rescue operation became increasingly complex.
Image via Bernama
By midday, around 12:20 pm, the team had managed to use a crane to remove the stone bench that had also fallen into the sinkhole, clearing the way and ensuring that the bench would not obstruct their attempts to reach the trapped woman.
Despite the initial progress, the woman’s exact location within the drainage system remained unclear. By 3 pm, the team had escalated their efforts, with personnel being lowered into a sewer hole in an attempt to reach the woman from beneath.
Unconfirmed reports have mentioned that by 6pm, the woman’s body had been found and extracted from the sinkhole, but her exact fate remains uncertain.
Watch the moment the sinkhole appeared here:
How do sinkholes form?
Sinkholes like the one that formed today occur when the ground beneath the surface can no longer support the weight above it. This often happens when water, whether from heavy rain, burst pipes, or natural underground streams, erodes the rock or soil beneath the surface.
Over time, the ground becomes unstable, and without warning, the surface layer collapses, creating a sinkhole. Heavy rainfall, in particular, can speed up this process, as the sudden deluge of water can rapidly wash away supporting material, leading to a sudden and dangerous collapse.
What you can do to avoid a sinkhole collapse:
Sinkholes are often unpredictable, but there are steps the general public can take to minimize the risk of being caught in one:
1) Avoid construction sites
2) Be mindful of cracks in sidewalks or streets
3) Stay away from areas prone to waterlogging during heavy rains
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of urban infrastructure maintenance and the need for public awareness regarding the risks associated with sinkholes, particularly in areas susceptible to heavy rainfall.
Watch Bernama’s coverage in this video here:
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Why I Love Malaysia As A Singaporean Girl Who Moved Here 7 Years Ago
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