KUALA LUMPUR: Heavy rain and strong winds that swept through the capital yesterday evening resulted in fallen trees and broken branches at 14 locations across the city.

In response, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) deployed three operational teams, including its First Rider unit, comprising 20 personnel, to remove the trees.

The affected areas were located at Taman Desa, Kuchai Lama, Taman Bukit Segar, Jalan Klang Lama, Jalan Ampang, Taman Skyline Klang Lama, and Taman Gembira.

"These teams were dispatched to all affected areas to carry out immediate removal, cutting, and clean-up works," DBKL said in a statement on Facebook today.

The local authority said its swift intervention aimed to ensure public safety and maintain smooth traffic flow following the incidents.

"DBKL remains committed to ensuring that recovery and clean-up operations are carried out swiftly to minimise risks to public safety and prevent any disruption to road users," it added.

THERE is not enough food, water, shelter and medicine in Myanmar after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the country, and the available humanitarian aid is not reaching those who need it fast enough.

Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus, president of humanitarian aid organisation Mercy Malaysia, said the ongoing political conflict in the quake-hit country was complicating relief efforts.

In addition to damaged infrastructure and road blockages, he said, security concerns, restricted access to certain areas and the bureaucratic hurdles for aid convoys and personnel movement were contributing to delays.

“It’s frustrating. The extreme heat is making things worse, especially when it comes to drinking water,” said Faizal. “Despite these setbacks, we’re doing everything we can to speed up aid delivery.

“We are working closely with relevant authorities and partners to navigate these challenges and ensure aid reaches those who need it.”

While donations have been coming in, he said the support was still insufficient to meet the full scale of the crisis.

“We still need more funding to sustain emergency medical relief, food and water distribution, and long-term recovery efforts.

“Every contribution makes a difference, and we’ll continue to update the public on how they can help,” he told the New Straits Times.

He said survivors were facing mental health challenges and psychological trauma.

About 27 volunteers and staff members based in Malaysia — covering logistics,

medical, technical and mental health support — are prepared to fly to Myanmar once approvals are granted.

Currently, 13 personnel, including a rapid assessment team and two medical teams stationed in Myanmar, have been deployed to the scene to carry out humanitarian efforts.

A third medical team is on standby. “We also have a World Health Organisation-certified emergency medical team with a field hospital ready for deployment,” Faizal added.

“The WHO requested it, and we’re ready to deploy as soon as we get the green light from Myanmar authorities.”

Although Mercy Malaysia supplies its own relief, the organisation also collaborates with local and international partners in Myanmar, including the Malaysian government and the United Nations.

Malaysia has pledged RM10 million in aid for Myanmar. The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team deployed to Myanmar has been consistently recovering bodies from under the rubble since arriving on March 31.

The death toll has surpassed 3,000.

■ 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.