TAIPING: The sister of one of the victims who died after they were suspected of inhaling toxic fumes while performing cleaning work in a sewer at a new resort construction site in Kampung Ibol, Sumpitan, near Lenggong this morning, said she never expected this year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri would be their last celebration together.

Nor Azimah Che Norallasahlilaputera, 36, who lives in Penang, said she celebrated Aidilfitri with her late younger brother, Mohd Suhaimi, 29, at their parents' home in Kampung Sumpitan, Lenggong just a few days ago.

"Mohd Suhaimi was the youngest of seven siblings and lived with our parents in the village. He didn't behave unusually or leave any messages for the family. Everyone was home to celebrate at our mother's house," she said when contacted yesterday.

Nor Azimah said she last saw her brother this morning before he left for work, adding that she and her family would head to the Taiping Hospital's Forensics Department today to claim her brother's body.

She said Mohd Suhaimi leaves behind a wife and a two-year-old son.

In the incident this morning, three men including Mohd Suhaimi and an Indonesian national lost their lives while performing cleaning work in the sewer.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) assistant director of operations Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said the two local men, aged 29 and 37, died at the scene, while the Indonesian man was confirmed dead at the Gerik Hospital.

The remains of the two local victims were brought to the Taiping Hospital at 7.30pm for post-mortems today. – BERNAMA

Kuala Lumpur: Anggaran kerugian akibat insiden letupan paip gas bawah tanah di Putra Heights, Subang dekat sini, Selasa lalu mampu mencecah lebih RM1 bilion, sekali gus mencetuskan persoalan besar siapa yang akan menanggung pampasan kepada lebih 250 pemilik kediaman yang terjejas.

Pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Siswazah Perniagaan, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (Unirazak), Profesor Emeritus Barjoyai Bardai berkata, jumlah itu merangkumi kerosakan fizikal kediaman, kemusnahan kenderaan dan pelbagai barangan rumah termasuk barangan elektrik, selain penurunan nilai hartanah secara menyeluruh di kawasan terjejas.

Katanya, setiap kediaman yang dibeli pada harga sekitar RM500,000 ke RM1 juta mungkin menanggung kerugian berlipat ganda apabila mengambil kira kerosakan kenderaan, perabot, peralatan rumah dan pembaikan struktur.

"Infrastruktur seperti pendawaian dan sistem paip juga dianggap tidak lagi boleh digunakan kerana menerima tekanan haba tinggi melebihi 1,000 darjah Celsius.

"Kos pembinaan semula infrastruktur, termasuk sistem paip dan saliran, turut menyumbang kepada angka kerugian yang besar.

"Malah, kemungkinan besar keseluruhan kawasan perlu dikosongkan dan dibina semula bagi memastikan keselamatan jangka panjang," katanya ketika dihubungi Harian Metro.

Katanya, kerajaan sebelum ini mengumumkan bantuan segera RM5,000 kepada setiap keluarga terjejas, namun jumlah itu tidak mencukupi kerana anggaran kerugian minimum setiap keluarga mencecah RM100,000.

Menurut Barjoyai, kejadian itu bukan kemalangan atau bencana biasa, sebaliknya berpunca daripada risiko berkaitan infrastruktur perniagaan dan wajar ditanggung sepenuhnya oleh pihak yang bertanggungjawab.

"Ia perlu satu siasatan menyeluruh. Sekiranya terbukti berpunca daripada kelalaian pihak tertentu maka hampir keseluruhan kos mungkin perlu ditanggung pihak berkenaan.

"Persoalannya kini, berapakah jumlah pampasan diperuntukkan dan siapa yang akan menanggungnya kerajaan atau syarikat?" katanya.

Beliau turut menyarankan pampasan diberikan 100 peratus daripada nilai hartanah, memandangkan insiden ini bukan bencana alam seperti banjir atau kebakaran biasa, sebaliknya berpunca daripada faktor teknikal dan pengurusan risiko perniagaan.

Tambahnya lagi, insiden berkenaan membuka lembaran baharu terhadap aspek ketelusan dan ketelitian sistem pemantauan projek mega seperti pemasangan paip gas sepanjang 1,400 kilometer (km) yang dilaksanakan.

"Sepatutnya ada kawasan penampan (buffer zone) yang tertutup dan tidak boleh diakses oleh awam. Namun, kita lihat lokasi ini seolah-olah terbuka dan mudah dicapai oleh mesin serta manusia.

"Perlu ada sistem pemantauan berterusan bagi memastikan keselamatan paip dan komuniti sekitar untuk jangka panjang," katanya.

Beliau berkata, insiden kali ini bernasib baik kerana berjaya dikawal dalam masa lebih tujuh jam, tapi ia juga mendedahkan kelemahan potensi risiko dalam kawasan penempatan moden negara.

Selain itu, beliau turut memuji kecekapan pasukan bomba dan penyelamat dalam mengawal situasi, namun menekankan perlunya pelan risiko yang lebih ketat bagi projek membabitkan bahan mudah terbakar seperti gas, petroleum dan elektrik.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has yet to begin its investigation at the site of the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, as authorities work to stabilise the area.

Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the ground remains unstable due to the explosion and recent rainfall, delaying the investigation.

In a press conference held at the Incident Command Post (PKTK) in Putra Heights, Hussein said the authorities first needed to ensure the area was safe and stable before beginning any investigative work.

He said a temporary diversion of the monsoon drain, which crosses the Petronas gas pipeline, was carried out and completed yesterday.

"The first phase of stabilisation includes heat mapping (100 - 650 degrees Celsius) within a 300-metre radius of the blast site. In the second phase, we will ensure soil safety and stability before proceeding with excavation to expose the gas pipeline and locate any physical evidence," Hussein said.

The second phase, which includes ground scanning, soil grading, and the installation of sheet piles, is scheduled to take place from tomorrow until April 15.

Hussein noted that the process would take time, particularly as the blast crater formed by the explosion is about seven metres deep.

"Given the current rainy weather, we first need to pump out the accumulated water, which could take up to seven to ten days. Another challenge is that we need to remove the soil layer by layer until we reach a depth of six metres after installing the sheet piles.

"Once that is done, we will document the site with videos and photographs to assist in the investigation. This process will take another two weeks, and only then will we be able to issue a preliminary report," he added.

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

A total of 219 houses were affected, while 220 were confirmed to be safe and not impacted by the incident. – BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly a week after the gas pipeline fire and explosion in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tuesday, a full investigation to determine the root cause of the incident has yet to begin due to the unstable condition of the site.

Efforts to stabilise ‘ground zero’ have become more challenging, as a large crater formed by the incident is now filled with water following several days of rain.

Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said several recovery phases need to be completed before a thorough investigation by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the police can be conducted. This will be followed by inspection, repair and the eventual restoration of the gas supply line.

He said the recovery process involves heat mapping (ranging from 100 to 650 degrees Celsius) within a 300-metre radius, surface soil inspections, soil classification and the installation of sheet piles, with these works scheduled to begin tomorrow and continue until April 15.

On its investigation from a criminal angle, Hussein said the police have recorded statements from 118 individuals, including contractors, subcontractors and workers involved in excavation and sewage pipe installation at the site.

“Further checks showed that excavation work by the contractor did not exceed three metres in depth, with a trench width of 1.5 metres. The installation extended more than 30 metres and was believed to be ongoing,” he said.

As of noon today, a total of 642 police reports have been lodged, including one claiming that firecrackers were being set off on Monday night (March 31), before the fire broke out the following morning.

Meanwhile, Hussein said safety inspections of affected homes have concluded today, with 220 of the 439 homes inspected declared safe and unaffected, while 219 were found to be damaged.

Of the damaged homes, 87 sustained severe damage exceeding 20 per cent, while 132 had minor damage of less than 20 per cent, with the latter being cleared for repair by homeowners starting today.

Separately, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that 38 out of the 146 victims of the tragedy are still receiving treatment at hospitals and clinics. This includes 18 in government hospitals and 20 in private healthcare facilities. There are currently no patients in intensive care (ICU), and no fatalities have been reported.

Efforts to provide assistance to victims are ongoing with the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) allocating RM2,000 in aid for affected university students, who are also permitted to continue their studies online as the new academic session begins tomorrow.

The Petronas gas pipeline fire, which shocked the nation on Tuesday morning, saw flames soaring over 30 metres high, reaching temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius. It took nearly eight hours to extinguish the fire completely.