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.

Alexander Nanta Linggi says the disaster management agency distributes RM1,000 aid only to flood victims who relocate to a government relief centre.

The national disaster management agency (Nadma) has been urged to review the conditions for flood victims to receive the RM1,000 in disaster aid.

Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi said the financial aid was distributed only to flood victims who agreed to be relocated to a government relief centre.

Nanta came to the defence of his constituents, saying in a Facebook post that those who did not evacuate had their reasons for doing so.

“It’s not that they did not want to leave, but there was no transport to relocate them. I was also made to understand that some were afraid of leaving their belongings (as they might get stolen),” he said.

Nanta, who is federal works minister, suggested that Nadma provide half the amount of aid to those affected. “If the victims are ineligible for the RM1,000, give RM500 as it would already be very helpful in reducing their burden,” he said.

Yesterday, Sarawak deputy premier Douglas Uggah Embas said about 5,600 households were affected by the floods in February while the RM1,000 aid has been channelled to around 3,600 families.

Uggah said the authorities were confirming the details of families who opted not to relocate to relief centres and their reasons for doing so. He said they would get the financial aid “if their reasons are reasonable”.

SUBANG JAYA: Heavy rain over the past two days has worsened the damage to the houses caused by the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights here.

“Due to the heavy rain, we noticed that the ‘holes’ in the structure have turned into ‘waterfalls’. Water is spilling from the walls,” said homeowner Nor Azlina Ariffin, 52.

She made the discovery during a joint inspection with Tenaga Nasional Bhd, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Subang Jaya City Council.

The damage, she said, had been exacerbated by heavy rain. Showing a video to reporters that was taken during an inspection at her home, Nor Azlina pointed to damage from a hole in the ceiling with water flowing down.

Yoke Ling, another homeowner, shared Nor Azlina’s concerns. According to her, there has been no progress in getting their homes fixed.

“We have just been waiting. Some of us are falling sick,” said Yoke Ling, who is in her 40s.

Both women were of the view that government agencies are doing a “great job” but called for better coordination with regard to aid allocations.

“There has been an influx of information about the forms to fill out and so on. But many of us are not staying at the evacuation centres. We are staying with friends, family and even at hotels.

“We can’t be expected to be at different places at the same time.”

Several other residents, who did not want to be named, said that some of them are planning to move back to their homes “out of desperation”.

“We can’t go on staying with friends and relatives,” one resident said. He also pointed out that the relief centres are running out of space.

However, he said they are more concerned for their safety as they feel that their houses are unfit for occupancy until a thorough inspection is carried out by building experts.

Most houses have damaged roofs, and the tiles are falling through the ceiling, he said.

The proper way to check the damage is to appoint qualified building inspectors instead of giving it a mere look, he added.

Seramai 25 pegawai penyiasat kebakaran yang dibawa dari Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Selangor kini sedang menjalankan penilaian akhir di kawasan terjejas akibat kebakaran paip gas di Taman Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, di sini.

Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM), Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad berkata, semua pegawai berkenaan adalah anggota Unit Penyiasatan Kebakaran yang berkemahiran.

“Kita juga pecahkan kepada dua pasukan utama iaitu satu fokus kepada anggaran kerugian dan satu lagi kepada aspek teknikal.

“Pasukan teknikal JBPM ini turut bekerjasama rapat dengan agensi berkaitan bagi menjalankan pemeriksaan sistem serta mengenal pasti sebarang kerosakan teknikal yang mungkin menjadi punca kejadian,” katanya kepada Harian Metro, semalam.

Mengulas perkembangan terkini, Nor Hisham memaklumkan, JBPM kini berada di fasa akhir proses penilaian keselamatan, dengan kompilasi maklumat dijangka siap dan diserahkan kepadanya sekitar jam 4 petang (semalam).

“Setakat ini, laporan akhir masih dalam proses kompilasi. Kami akan bentangkan hasil penilaian kepada Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri terlebih dahulu sebelum sebarang keputusan dimuktamadkan.

“Laporan akhir masih dalam proses kompilasi. Kami akan bentangkan hasil penilaian kepada Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri terlebih dahulu sebelum sebarang keputusan dimuktamadkan”

“Kami faham tekanan yang dihadapi penduduk, justeru kami tidak mahu mengganggu mereka sebelum semua aspek keselamatan disahkan,” katanya.

Beliau memaklumkan bahawa sebarang pengumuman rasmi mengenai penilaian akhir hanya akan dibuat selepas laporan dibentangkan kepada Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri. “Segala sokongan teknikal dan laporan telah siap, namun pengumuman bukan di bawah bidang kuasa JBPM. Ia perlu melalui jawatankuasa terlebih dahulu,” katanya.

JBPM kini berada di fasa akhir proses penilaian keselamatan