PUTRA HEIGHTS BLAZE: GROUND INSTABILITY STALLS FORENSIC WORK AT GROUND ZERO

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) -- Forensic investigations at the site of the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, have not yet begun due to the unstable ground structure in the area, Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said. 

He said efforts to stabilise the ground were progressing slowly, despite being conducted around the clock, due to heavy rainfall and water pooling in the crater formed after the blaze. 

The process of installing sheet piles to reinforce the soil structure around the crater has also been delayed by the unpredictable weather.

However, Hussein remained optimistic that the preliminary report on the incident would be completed within the previously announced timeline.

“We will work as quickly as possible, but the work must be done carefully because there are two other pipelines at the site that must be safeguarded, and we don’t want to damage any structures that could be crucial evidence in the investigation,” he told a press conference at the Incident Command Centre in Subang Jaya today.

In the meantime, Hussein said the authorities have conducted excavation work at the site to a depth of 10 metres to fully expose the gas pipeline involved in the incident.

The Public Works Department has also carried out additional inspections on the houses that were previously declared safe for occupation, using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity tools to confirm the structural integrity of these homes.

So far, the results from these inspections have been consistent with findings from other technical agencies, such as the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Air Selangor.

Hussein said victims wishing to return to their homes, which have been certified as safe, can conduct further inspections themselves and are encouraged to lodge complaints at the MBSJ complaint tents at the site if needed.

“To date, 437 homes have been inspected, with 301 confirmed as safe to occupy, and 190 homes have already been reoccupied by the victims,” he added.

The Petronas gas pipeline fire on April 1 broke out at 8.10 am, causing flames to reach over 30 metres high, with temperatures soaring to 1,000°C.  It took nearly eight hours to fully extinguish the fire.

-- BERNAMA