■ Government agencies, companies to provide temporary housing, cars on loan and digital devices to victims

■ Preliminary report in two weeks, complete findings in another fortnight

POLICE yesterday confirmed that excavation work was being carried out to change sewer pipes approximately 30 metres from where a gas pipeline explosion took place in Putra Heights on Tuesday.

Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said two pieces of equipment were used. An excavator left at the site was buried, while a backhoe was removed before the explosion.

The work, which had been approved by the Subang Jaya City Council beforehand, was halted on March 30.

He said police have identified the developer, contractor, subcontractor and workers involved in using the backhoe and excavator for replacing the existing sewer pipes, and they have been called in.

“On April 1, a massive explosion occurred, causing a significant impact that resulted in a large crater approximately eight metres deep and with a diameter of around 70 metres.

“The explosion happened underground, where there are three Petronas pipelines carrying methane or natural gas. One of these pipelines exploded.

“Whether the excavation activity could have caused the explosion is a matter that requires further investigation to identify other possible factors,” he said at a press conference at the Incident Command Post here yesterday.

He said additional evidence must be gathered as investigators excavate the site, where they could find physical clues that might determine whether the soil excavation activities contributed to the explosion.

At the moment, he said, stabilisation works were being carried out as the blast’s impact disrupted the original structure or landscape of the area.

The site, he said, was currently unstable.

Hussein said police would need to excavate the site to determine whether anyone was inside the excavator, which would be done after April 15.

“We have taken statements from 56 witnesses, including victims who were present at the scene, as well as contractors and workers in the area.

“We have identified one key witness who was at the scene when the explosion occurred — a security guard stationed in front of a newly constructed shoplot. He was about 30 metres from the explosion site at the time and was also injured.

“Police are gathering information and statements from this witness to determine whether any activities — such as burning, excavation or other actions — could have triggered the explosion.

“We need more time as we continue efforts to stabilise the ground and conduct a more detailed investigation.”

Police, he said, were also reviewing 20 dashcam videos and other related videos provided by independent witnesses.

Hussein said it was through these videos that they identified a witness who was at the scene of the incident, and he urged the public to come forward if they have any additional information, images or videos.

“We want to determine who else was present at the scene during or before the incident and whether any activities took place that could have led to the explosion.”

As for whether the excavation work was on reserve land or road reserve land, he said that was still under investigation.

Regarding viral allegations that excavation work took place on the morning of Hari Raya, he said police had obtained the video and have also called in the witness who claimed to have seen some work being done.

“The witness was in the area visiting for Hari Raya and saw the backhoe that morning. However, he was unsure whether any work was actually being carried out.

“We have identified the backhoe owner, who removed the machine for repairs due to reported damage. While we can confirm that the backhoe was present in the area, we have yet to determine whether excavation work took place

“Further investigation is needed to establish whether any digging activities, if they occurred, could have triggered the explosion.

“The excavator was indeed at the site because some work had not been completed.”

Meanwhile, he said the technical team, led by the Public Works Department, would take approximately two weeks to produce a preliminary report in collaboration with other agencies.

He added that they would need another two weeks to complete a full report due to the complexity of the situation.

He also said no bodies had been found so far.

Subang Jaya: Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) mengesahkan terdapat kegiatan mengorek tanah berhampiran tempat letupan paip gas bawah tanah di Putra Heights di sini, pada 30 Mac lalu.

Bagaimanapun, Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Seri Hussein Omar Khan, berkata pihaknya perlu menjalankan siasatan lanjut bagi menentukan sama ada kerja pengorekan tanah itu menjadi punca kejadian terbabit.

Beliau berkata, tiga unsur yang mendorong letupan paip gas bawah tanah di Putra Heights itu ialah gas, udara dan percikan api.

Katanya, setakat ini seramai 56 saksi sudah dipanggil untuk menjalani sesi rakaman percakapan bagi membantu siasatan kejadian terbabit.

“Polis sedang mengumpul maklumat daripada seorang saksi kejadian iaitu pengawal keselamatan yang berada di lokasi kejadian.

“Kerja mengorek tanah dibuat bagi menggantikan paip kumbahan, terletak kira-kira 30 meter (m) dari lokasi letupan. Namun, kita belum mengenal pasti, sama ada mereka turut membuat kerja pada hari pertama Aidilfitri atau sebaliknya.

“Berdasarkan keterangan saksi, eskavator yang dilihat pada hari terbabit dikatakan mahu dibawa keluar dari tapak projek, tetapi mereka dikatakan tidak sempat berbuat demikian,” katanya pada sidang media di sini, semalam.

Yang turut hadir, Setiausaha Kerajaan Selangor, Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin; Pengarah Jabatan Kerja Raya Selangor, Shukri Ishak serta Pengarah Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) Selangor, Wan Md Razzali Wan Ismail.

Satu daripada paip pecah

Hussein berkata, terdapat tiga paip gas natural yang membawa bahan berkenaan dari Terengganu ke selatan dan utara Semenanjung serta Thailand.

“Ketika kejadian, satu daripada tiga paip terbabit dikesan pecah, menyebabkan kebocoran gas yang mengakibatkan letupan terbabit,” katanya

Selasa lalu, kebakaran besar paip gas berlaku di Putra Heights, Selangor menyebabkan kemusnahan besar sehingga memaksa sebahagian penduduk dipindahkan ke pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS).

Kebakaran saluran paip gas PETRONAS sepanjang 500m yang bermula sekitar jam 8 pagi itu menyebabkan api menjulang tinggi sehingga dapat dilihat beberapa kilometer dari tempat kejadian.

Hussein berkata, polis membuka satu kertas siasatan bagi mengenal pasti, sama ada wujud unsur jenayah yang mengakibatkan letupan gas bawah tanah itu.

Beliau berkata, kertas siasatan dibuka bagi melihat sama ada wujud jenayah khianat atau kecuaian.

Katanya, kertas siasatan itu memberi kuasa kepada polis memanggil sesiapa sahaja untuk mendapatkan maklumat.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengarahkan semua bantuan dan usaha koordinasi membabitkan kebakaran di Putra Heights diselaraskan secara langsung dengan Menteri Besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari dan PETRONAS.

Pejabat Perdana Menteri dalam satu kenyataan berkata, langkah itu bagi memastikan segala gerak kerja terkait pengurusan bantuan di lapangan dapat dibuat dengan teratur dan lebih berkesan.

Katanya, kerjasama antara kerajaan Persekutuan, kerajaan negeri dan sektor industri amat penting menangani situasi ini dengan segera dan menyeluruh.

“Segala bentuk bantuan dan usaha koordinasi terkait insiden kebakaran di Putra Heights perlu diselaraskan secara langsung dengan Menteri Besar Selangor dan pihak PETRONAS diketuai Presiden merangkap Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan, Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Kamadjaja Aziz,” menurut kenyataan itu, semalam.

Menurut kenyataan itu lagi, Perdana Menteri akan terus memantau perkembangan semasa dan memberi sokongan dan dukungan penuh terhadap segala usaha pemulihan serta keselamatan yang sedang dilaksanakan.

Cuaca panas mencecah sehingga 41 darjah Celsius serta keadaan berdebu menjadi antara cabaran utama buat Pasukan

Mencari dan Menyelamat Khas Malaysia (Smart) yang ketika ini sedang melaksanakan misi di daerah Sagaing, Myanmar yang dilanda gempa bumi.

Ketua Unit Latihan Smart Penguasa Kanan Bomba II Mohamad Hafiezul Abdul Halim berkata rangkaian komunikasi yang masih belum stabil turut menjadi ujian buat mereka dalam melaksanakan operasi mencari dan menyelamat. “Seterusnya keadaan bangunan yang ranap teruk, jadi kami juga memerlukan cara yang terbaik untuk kita masuk dan membawa keluar setiap mangsa.

“Walau bagaimanapun, kami sedang memberikan yang terbaik,” katanya ketika bersiaran langsung dari Myanmar dalam program Ruang Bicara terbitan Bernama TV, malam kelmarin.

Menurut Mohamad Hafiezul, selain menerima kerjasama yang sangat baik daripada pihak berkuasa tempatan Myanmar, pasukan Smart juga menerima penghargaan daripada penduduk di kawasan terjejas.

“Dari pagi Penduduk berikan air minuman serta ucapkan terima kasih Mohamad Hafiezul sehingga ke petang, pangkalan operasi (base of operations) akan menerima pelawat-pelawat daripada penduduk sekitar yang memberikan air minuman serta datang mengucapkan terima kasih.

“Sama juga di tapak kerja, jika kita minta semua memberikan kerjasama, semuanya okey. Di sana juga kadang-kadang mereka datang berikan air minuman dan bertanya jika perlukan bantuan,” katanya.

Seramai 50 anggota Smart berlepas ke Naypyidaw, Myanmar pada Ahad lalu bagi misi kemanusiaan serta membantu operasi SAR mangsa gempa bumi di negara itu.

Setakat ini mereka telah berjaya mengeluarkan tujuh mangsa termasuk seorang yang masih hidup di bawah runtuhan.

Gempa bumi berukuran 7.7 pada skala Richter melanda Myanmar pada Jumaat lalu dengan Mandalay, Bago, Magway, timur laut negeri Shan, Sagaing dan Naypyidaw antara kawasan yang paling teruk terjejas, selain turut menjejaskan negara jiran Thailand.