Masjid India Sinkhole: Six scuba team members to inspect sewer tunnels

KUALA LUMPUR - Six members of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department Special Task Force have been assigned to inspect sewer tunnels in the search for the victim of the sinkhole at Jalan Masjid India here today.

The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department Deputy Director, Rozihan Anwar Mamat, stated that two members will enter the sewer tunnels at one time.

He said the inspection period would be limited to 20 minutes at a time due to safety considerations for the team.

"The scuba team enters the sewer in pairs of two to three members at a time because there are gases in the sewer area that can pose risks to the personnel. The team also faces challenges from strong currents, narrow spaces, and hazardous air conditions," he said at a press conference at the scene on Jalan Masjid India today.

He made these comments while accompanying the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, who was visiting the sinkhole site.

Also present were Dang Wangi District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman.

Sulizmie Affendy, meanwhile commented on the directive to close nearby business premises, stating that the temporary closure was made with safety considerations in mind.

He said the temporary closure was only ordered during the sewer inspection operations.

"We did not order a complete closure, but during the sewer opening operations, there are gases that might pose health risks to the traders. Additionally, the sewer is close to the stalls. Therefore, while the inspection work is ongoing, we request that business operations be temporarily suspended," he said today.

As of 5pm, four out of six sewer tunnels have been inspected, with remaining locations at Dataran Merdeka and Bulatan Kinabalu still in the search process.