"We will continue searching for the victim until she is found," said Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman.
The district police chief and commander of the search and rescue (SAR) operations made this statement on Monday (Aug 26) when asked about the authorities' next steps if the 48-year-old Indian national, who was swallowed by a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India last Friday, or her remains are not located.
He also noted that City Hall has barricaded the underground sewer lines at the sinkhole with over 100 sandbags to prevent rainwater from disrupting the SAR efforts.
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The district police chief and commander of the search and rescue (SAR) operations made this statement on Monday (Aug 26) when asked about the authorities' next steps if the 48-year-old Indian national, who was swallowed by a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India last Friday, or her remains are not located.
He also noted that City Hall has barricaded the underground sewer lines at the sinkhole with over 100 sandbags to prevent rainwater from disrupting the SAR efforts.
Read more at https://shorturl.at/rkurf
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
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NewsTranscript
00:00On August 26, 2024, the search and rescue team continued again on the fourth day to detect a sign that could lead to the discovery of the victim.
00:16The bombers and the IWK Water Consortium continued to flush the main hall and the IWK loggia.
00:30However, so far, no sign of the victim has been found.
00:35The IWK continues to use a jetto, which is a high-pressure flushing in an effort to disassemble the hard objects in the concrete pipe at the location of the incident.
00:48In addition, the SAR team continues to use camera technology through two techniques, namely pushrod and crawler, which are inserted into the concrete pipe.
00:59In order to increase people's confidence in the safety of the location of the incident, a task force has been established through joint involvement of the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Minerals and Geoscience to conduct research on land structures, especially in the area around Masjid Indiah.
01:21Due to bad weather conditions, the IWK has taken the initiative to place sandbags at the location of the incident to reduce the flow of rainwater into the area.
01:38The search for the victim is still being carried out by the SAR team.
01:45How many sandbags have been placed in this area?
01:49I was informed that there are more than 100 sandbags that we placed behind. If you look at the cone facing the location of the incident, we placed more than 100 sandbags to avoid rainwater from overflowing into the correct location.
02:16How long will this operation last?
02:20As far as I know, and if you see the statement from our Prime Minister, we will continue the search operation until the victim is found.
02:35How long will this operation last?
02:38We will continue the search operation until the victim is found.
03:03Just one main hole?
03:05We placed the sandbags at the main hole in Wisma Yakin.
03:11We placed the sandbags at the main hole in Wisma Yakin.
03:29At a distance of about 4 meters, we saw an object that looked like hard rocks.
03:39This morning, we used the jetting technique to break the object so that when the object is broken, the water will flow down.
03:53Hopefully, any object, including a human body, will pass through the object that holds the object.
04:04Based on what we found in the early morning, I think it was around 3 to 6 in the morning, there is still some sandbags that haven't come out yet.
04:15We will place the sandbags there first.
04:19Sir, are there any experts from abroad who can help us with the sandbags?
04:25In an incident like this, the work of the investigation is at the highest level and is supervised by Dato' Banda Kolompo.
04:39So, as far as our discussion is concerned, Dato' Banda with the existing agencies, we have used our expertise in our country.
04:51And we believe that with the help of the existing agencies, we will be able to solve this problem.
05:01After the Wisma Yakin, will the jetting technique be used in other areas?
05:08We will clear the area in Wisma Yakin first.
05:11Because we saw a lot of hard objects such as rocks.
05:16This is not a place for flushing?
05:19Flushing is also done below, but in levels.
05:24As I mentioned earlier, when we entered the camera, we saw that there was a gap, we wanted to clear it first.
05:29We are afraid that there is something behind the gap that is blocking it.
05:35The camera can go as far as the inner beach, how long is it?
05:40Between the gaps, 80 to 100 meters.
05:49If necessary, we will move to other areas.
05:52For now, focus on this area, from the work area to Wisma Yakin.
05:58What are the challenges that the search and rescue operations are facing today?
06:06I am the incident commander here.
06:09Of course, as a police, we don't have the expertise like BOMOR, IWK, or JKR for rescue operations.
06:17We are more of a security guard.
06:19One thing I advise the visitors here, I place my security guards around the location of the incident.
06:28To prevent the visitor from entering.
06:31So, I advise, the first challenge is to include people who are not related to the location of the incident.
06:38Which can be dangerous to life and so on.
06:43That's the first.
06:45The second is a challenge to the rescue team.
06:49As I said, from the first PC and so on.
06:53With a narrow space, with the guests in the building.
06:59So, things like that, we need to pay attention to.
07:02And I don't want this to pose a threat to the rescue team.
07:09Who are doing the search and rescue operations.
07:12How many flushings so far?
07:15How many flushings have you guys done?
07:18We have done 10 flushings.
07:21We have done 10 flushings.
07:23Until now, we will continue.
07:25We are doing it at the farm station.
07:28Or the beach.
07:30Today, the focus is not here.
07:34We don't know if it's because we took out the debris.
07:37Or if it's because of the debris.
07:40That's our focus right now.
07:42So, we are doing everything quietly.
07:44The work is being carried out.
07:46This is the fourth flush.
07:48We will do it until it's clear.
07:50We want to make sure that everything is there or not.
07:54Okay.
07:57Debris.
08:01Maximum 3,000 PSI.
08:04Maximum 3,000 PSI or 200 bar.
08:08We are clearing the debris.
08:12Pardon?
08:15How long does it take?
08:17It depends on the size of the debris.
08:23We use a high pressure water jet.
08:26How long does the jet take?
08:30We did it three times this morning.
08:32This is the fourth flush.
08:34We will continue until it's clear.
08:36We will continue until it's clear tonight.
08:38Sir, the debris that we found...
08:40...are there any remains of stones?
08:43Yes, there are remains of stones.
08:45There are a lot of things down there.
08:47We can't see anything.
08:49Is there anything else?
08:53We didn't find any evidence...
08:57...that can lead to the discovery of the remains.
09:00Sir, is there any chance for the JPPM team...
09:05...to come down and do a rescue?
09:09Every time there is a flushing activity...
09:13...we have a team of supervisors every week.
09:16We want to make sure...
09:18...that nothing escapes our sight.
09:23Okay, that's all. Thank you.
09:25Last.
09:27Is there a possibility that the victim will never be found?
09:30If yes, what is the next step?
09:32Sorry?
09:34Is there a possibility that the victim will never be found?
09:37And if yes, what will be the next step?
09:39I can't comment on that.
09:41As I told before...
09:43...we will keep searching for this victim until we find it.