A woman has plunged into an eight-metre deep sinkhole in central Kuala Lumpur after the footpath caved in, burying her alive, Malaysian authorities say.

The incident happened on Friday in the Dang Wangi area of the Malaysian capital, where local police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said the woman was walking along the footpath when the earth suddenly collapsed beneath her.

Kuala Lumpur’s fire and rescue department said the woman was believed to be an Indian national.

Rescuers have barricaded part of the area and used an excavator to clear the debris in the hole, but there was no sign of the woman.

“The search will continue until the victim is found,” Sulizmie said.

He declined to comment when asked about the possible condition of the woman, or the cause of the incident.

– AAP