K9 unit detects possible obstruction in sinkhole, SAR operation to resume at 2am when water level below 1m
The Fire and Rescue Department has detected an obstruction caused by an object lodged between the sinkhole and the second sewage chamber, located approximately 80 metres away. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin
Thursday, 29 Aug 2024 8:59 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has detected an obstruction caused by an object lodged between the sinkhole and the second sewage chamber, located approximately 80 metres away.
Deputy director-general of Operations Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman said the obstruction was detected by the K9 unit dogs, Denti and Frankie, which were deployed at the site yesterday afternoon, along with camera surveillance.
“From the sniffing conducted by our K9 team, it seems there is a strong indication toward that area, so we will make efforts to search there.
“The cameras also indicate there is an obstruction, which suggests the victim may be trapped there or there’s some other object, so we want to search that area,” he told Bernama at the scene.
He added that efforts to pump out sewage water are currently underway to facilitate the movement of divers from JBPM’s Water Rescue Team.
Ahmad Izram stated that the diving operation will commence at 2am today, involving eight divers supported by 75 personnel overseeing machinery and logistics.
“We are conducting this operation at 2am because we expect the sewage water level to be below one metre then, compared to the usual level of 1.5 metres at a speed of three knots currently. This speed indicates strong water flow, which poses a risk to the divers.
“We are going to inspect the sewage chamber because there is a small gap between the wall of the chamber and the sewage pipe, where an object may be lodged,” he said, adding that Denti and Frankie will be deployed alongside the camera and divers once the sewage water recedes.
He noted that the two English Springer Spaniel dogs are being brought in to assist in locating the victim due to their excellent detection capabilities in the water.
He emphasised that the SAR team is also inspecting all the sewer chambers, and efforts to locate the victim will continue using multiple methods and available expertise.
The sinkhole, which occurred last Friday resulted in the Indian national tourist Vijayaletchumy, 48, from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh falling into an eight-metre-deep hole. Today marks the sixth day of the SAR operation.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) announced in a statement this evening that JBPM has entered the sewage channel upstream from the chamber at Wisma Yakin.
Additionally, manual shoring providing a temporary support system and excavation work have also been carried out.
According to DBKL, efforts to locate the victim using the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) device by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience is ongoing as well.
The statement also informed that the route from the police post on Jalan Masjid India to Semua House is closed to facilitate the SAR operation, and the public is advised to minimise movement in the area.
As of 10.30pm tonight, Bernama noted that the sinkhole site was occupied by several trucks loaded with equipment believed to be utilised for pumping sewage water to facilitate the search operation. — Bernama
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Rising water levels and undercurrents halt divers’ progress from reaching obstruction in sinkhole in search for missing woman
Thursday, 29 Aug 2024 8:59 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has detected an obstruction caused by an object lodged between the sinkhole and the second sewage chamber, located approximately 80 metres away.
Deputy director-general of Operations Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman said the obstruction was detected by the K9 unit dogs, Denti and Frankie, which were deployed at the site yesterday afternoon, along with camera surveillance.
“From the sniffing conducted by our K9 team, it seems there is a strong indication toward that area, so we will make efforts to search there.
“The cameras also indicate there is an obstruction, which suggests the victim may be trapped there or there’s some other object, so we want to search that area,” he told Bernama at the scene.
He added that efforts to pump out sewage water are currently underway to facilitate the movement of divers from JBPM’s Water Rescue Team.
Ahmad Izram stated that the diving operation will commence at 2am today, involving eight divers supported by 75 personnel overseeing machinery and logistics.
“We are conducting this operation at 2am because we expect the sewage water level to be below one metre then, compared to the usual level of 1.5 metres at a speed of three knots currently. This speed indicates strong water flow, which poses a risk to the divers.
“We are going to inspect the sewage chamber because there is a small gap between the wall of the chamber and the sewage pipe, where an object may be lodged,” he said, adding that Denti and Frankie will be deployed alongside the camera and divers once the sewage water recedes.
He noted that the two English Springer Spaniel dogs are being brought in to assist in locating the victim due to their excellent detection capabilities in the water.
He emphasised that the SAR team is also inspecting all the sewer chambers, and efforts to locate the victim will continue using multiple methods and available expertise.
The sinkhole, which occurred last Friday resulted in the Indian national tourist Vijayaletchumy, 48, from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh falling into an eight-metre-deep hole. Today marks the sixth day of the SAR operation.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) announced in a statement this evening that JBPM has entered the sewage channel upstream from the chamber at Wisma Yakin.
Additionally, manual shoring providing a temporary support system and excavation work have also been carried out.
According to DBKL, efforts to locate the victim using the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) device by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience is ongoing as well.
The statement also informed that the route from the police post on Jalan Masjid India to Semua House is closed to facilitate the SAR operation, and the public is advised to minimise movement in the area.
As of 10.30pm tonight, Bernama noted that the sinkhole site was occupied by several trucks loaded with equipment believed to be utilised for pumping sewage water to facilitate the search operation. — Bernama
~~~
Rising water levels and undercurrents halt divers’ progress from reaching obstruction in sinkhole in search for missing woman
Members of the Water Rescue Team of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department are preparing to go dive down into the sinkhole to find the missing Indian tourist who fell in at Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur August 29, 2024. — Bernama pic
Thursday, 29 Aug 2024 9:09 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — The situation was tense and full of anticipation in the search and rescue operation this morning when two firemen went down the sewage channel at the site of the sinkhole incident along Jalan Masjid India to dive into the sewage tunnel to find the Indian woman who is missing since last Friday.
Based on observations at the location, two firemen from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Diving Team (PPDA) who were fully equipped with scuba gear were seen descending into the hole at 3.06 in the morning and closely watched by members of the SAR team members.
The diving process was carried out after JBPM detected an obstacle in the form of an object stuck between the location of the clear soil and the second sewer, located approximately 80 metres away, yesterday.
However, less than half an hour later, the two firemen were then seen being pulled up using a rope and they climbed back out of the hole with the help of other team members before being decontaminated and cleaned.
Bernama was made to understand that the reason both divers were lifted up was because they were unable to get close to the location where the object is believed to have stuck, due to strong under currents in the sewage tunnel.
Until 4.30am this morning there has been no official statement from JBPM to the media who have been waiting since midnight to report the outcome of the SAR’s latest efforts.
Yesterday, JBPM Deputy Director General (Operations) Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman said his team detected an obstacle in the form of an object stuck between the location of the clear land and the second sewage tunnel which is located approximately 80 metres away from the site.
He said that the findings were obtained through detection by two Detection Unit (K9) dogs, Denti and Frankie, who were brought down to the scene of the incident last Tuesday, in addition to camera detection.
Following the detected object, water and sewage was pumped out late last night while eight divers assisted by 75 members who were manning the machinery and logistics.
During the sinkhole incident last Friday, a woman, identified as Vijayaletchumy, 48, from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India fell into an eight-metre-deep hole and went missing while the SAR operation continues for the seventh day today. — Bernama
Thursday, 29 Aug 2024 9:09 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — The situation was tense and full of anticipation in the search and rescue operation this morning when two firemen went down the sewage channel at the site of the sinkhole incident along Jalan Masjid India to dive into the sewage tunnel to find the Indian woman who is missing since last Friday.
Based on observations at the location, two firemen from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Diving Team (PPDA) who were fully equipped with scuba gear were seen descending into the hole at 3.06 in the morning and closely watched by members of the SAR team members.
The diving process was carried out after JBPM detected an obstacle in the form of an object stuck between the location of the clear soil and the second sewer, located approximately 80 metres away, yesterday.
However, less than half an hour later, the two firemen were then seen being pulled up using a rope and they climbed back out of the hole with the help of other team members before being decontaminated and cleaned.
Bernama was made to understand that the reason both divers were lifted up was because they were unable to get close to the location where the object is believed to have stuck, due to strong under currents in the sewage tunnel.
Until 4.30am this morning there has been no official statement from JBPM to the media who have been waiting since midnight to report the outcome of the SAR’s latest efforts.
Yesterday, JBPM Deputy Director General (Operations) Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman said his team detected an obstacle in the form of an object stuck between the location of the clear land and the second sewage tunnel which is located approximately 80 metres away from the site.
He said that the findings were obtained through detection by two Detection Unit (K9) dogs, Denti and Frankie, who were brought down to the scene of the incident last Tuesday, in addition to camera detection.
Following the detected object, water and sewage was pumped out late last night while eight divers assisted by 75 members who were manning the machinery and logistics.
During the sinkhole incident last Friday, a woman, identified as Vijayaletchumy, 48, from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India fell into an eight-metre-deep hole and went missing while the SAR operation continues for the seventh day today. — Bernama
IWK videos one time showed waterproof robot crawlers that could go through pipes that were too small or too dangerous for anyone to go in. Equipped with video cameras and manipulator arms they can do inspections and remove minor obstacles The cables reportedly could go as far as 500 m, plenty enough to inspect between Chambers.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was all for show only