The danger of encroachment near gas pipelines in residential areas has become stark, with police revealing that excavation work was done close to the site of the Putra Heights gas blast. Meanwhile, some 200 factories are believed to have been crippled by gas supply cuts.

PETALING JAYA: Excavation work was carried out by a contractor just 30m from where the gas pipeline blew up in Putra Heights on April 1.

A backhoe used for the work was removed from the site a day before the disaster, while another excavator is missing and believed to be buried in the soil following the blast, according to preliminary police investigations.

Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the excavator and backhoe had been used to dig up soil to replace an existing underground sewerage system in the area.

The excavation work had stopped on March 30.

Police have identified and questioned a developer, sub-contractor and workers who were involved in the construction work near the blast.

“Whether the excavation work led to the explosion can only be determined after further investigations. We need time to find out.

“As of now, PETRONAS has not detected any leak in its pipelines that may have caused the blast (prior to the explosion).

“If there had been a leak, it would have been detected by the company’s central sensors and monitoring systems. According to the Fire and Rescue Department, a gas leak alone would not have caused the explosion.

“There had to be a source of fire to trigger it,” he said in a much-awaited press conference at the makeshift command centre near the Putra Avenue residential area in Putra Heights.

It was reported that current guidelines set a minimum safety distance of 30m from highpressure gas pipelines, but experts suggested that the buffer zone be extended to between 50m and 100m to enhance safety.

Comm Hussein said investigations by the relevant authorities were made difficult by the ground’s instability.

“The blast altered the original landscape of the area, causing a hole that is 7m deep and 30m wide. It is surrounded by a crater and the ground is unstable.

“Efforts to stabilise the soil around the area are ongoing before investigations can be conducted safely. As such, a report on the preliminary findings can only be ready in about two weeks.

“It will take another two weeks for the full report on the disaster to be ready,” he added.

Comm Hussein said a twopronged investigation was being carried out, with the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) investigating breaches in worksite safety and other requirements, while police are probing elements of negligence or foul play.

“To date, we have recorded the statements of 56 people including victims, the developer, subcontractor and workers.

“Among them is a security guard who witnessed the blast from a row of shophouses being built 30m from the blast site. He was also injured in the fire.

“We would like to find out from him if any other activities had taken place before the blast, such as excavations or burning.”

Comm Hussein said there were no fatalities, although police had received claims that someone had jumped into a river 50m away. However, marine police had not found any body.

“A police tracker dog unit also searched the crater and found no bodies or body parts.”