Woman Swallowed by Sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur authorities are engaged in a rescue operation for a 48-year-old woman who fell into an eight-meter deep sinkhole that unexpectedly opened on a busy road. The incident occurred while the Indian national was seated on a bench along Jalan India Masjid, prompting immediate action from local police and emergency services. Witnesses reported that the ground suddenly caved in beneath her, leading to a frantic search for her whereabouts. The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department received a distress call at 08:22 local time and promptly dispatched a team of 15 firefighters to the scene. Rescue efforts are being supported by the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) and a K9 unit, who are utilizing ladders, hammers, and diggers to clear debris in hopes of locating the missing woman. As of now, there have been no signs of her presence in the sinkhole. Sinkholes, which typically form when underground water erodes rock, are not uncommon, though serious injuries from such incidents are rare. Historical data indicates that while sinkholes can be dangerous, significant casualties are infrequent. One of the most notable sinkhole disasters occurred in Canada in 2010, resulting in the tragic loss of a family of four. Globally, sinkholes vary in size, with the largest known sinkhole, Xiaoxhai Tiankeng in China, reaching a depth of 660 meters and believed to have formed over 128,000 years ago.