Search continues for missing tourist in Kuala Lumpur sinkhole as mayor assures city is safe

MALAYSIA: The search for 48-year-old Vijayalaksmi, who remains missing after falling into a sinkhole at Jalan Masjid India, continues with new methods deployed by Malaysian authorities.

Despite ongoing search and rescue (SAR) efforts, Vijayalaksmi has not yet been found, leading rescuers to initiate a staged flushing operation at the Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) sewage plant in Pantai Dalam.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif announced that the flushing operation, aimed at clearing blockages in the sewage system, began on 25 August.

Unlike high-pressure methods, this approach involved temporarily blocking water flow to naturally build up pressure, which was then released to flush out debris.

The search concentrated on manholes near Bank Pertanian and the Kinabalu roundabout, where slow water flow had been observed, indicating potential blockages.

Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Rozihan Anwar Mamat assured that the search would continue despite the challenges.

Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Sulizme Affendy Sulaiman confirmed that the operation would persist indefinitely, regardless of the flushing results, until Vijayalaksmi is found.

Vijayalaksmi, a tourist from India, fell into the eight-meter-deep sinkhole on Friday morning (23 Aug), while walking to a nearby temple for breakfast.

She was on a two-month holiday in Malaysia with her family and was due to return home soon.

City Safety Assurance

During a press conference on Sunday (25 Aug) at Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif addressed concerns about the city’s safety following the sinkhole incident.

She responded to a resurfaced 2015 Facebook post uploaded by an environmental activist, claiming that Kuala Lumpur is the most unsafe place in Malaysia due to the potential for a “giant sinkhole.”

The post alleged that 40% to 60% of Kuala Lumpur’s foundation consists of limestone and that unregulated development and disorganised drainage systems could increase the risk.

Maimunah countered these claims, stating that Kuala Lumpur has been developed over a long period and remains safe for habitation unless proven otherwise by thorough studies.

She mentioned that a task force, including the Department of Geology and the Public Works Department (JKR), has been established to investigate the matter further.

CCTV on Jalan Masjid captured the moment the tourist fell into the sinkhole:

Footage shared online on the first day of the search and rescue (SAR) operation (23 August)