Gas Malaysia Bhd has widened its gas supply curtailment because of operational limitations caused by last week’s pipeline explosion at Putra Heights. The utility group said the newly affected areas are Merbau, Tronoh, Perai, Junjung and Hutan Melintang.

“While the previously announced curtailment period remains unchanged and is still expected to continue until April 20, Gas Malaysia has been informed the new areas and additional new customers will be affected due to operational limitations stemming from the incident,” Bernama quoted Gas Malaysia as saying in a statement today.

It said it is working closely with the affected customers and its gas suppliers to manage the situation, adding that support and regular updates will be provided throughout the disruption period.

“Mitigating customer impact, ensuring public safety, and upholding service integrity remain Gas Malaysia’s key priorities throughout this period.

“Gas Malaysia appreciates the continued understanding and cooperation of all its customers and stakeholders, as the group navigates these temporary challenges,” it said.

Updates will be made available via Gas Malaysia’s official website www.gasmalaysia.com.

Gas Malaysia had earlier announced supply cuts in Shah Alam, Kundang, Petaling Jaya, Teluk Panglima Garang, Port Klang, Pulau Indah and its surrounding areas following the gas pipeline explosion that led to the temporary shutdown of nearby facilities.

The Petronas gas pipeline fire, which broke out at 8.10am last Tuesday, sent flames more than 30m high into the air and reached temperatures of 1,000 degree Celsius. Firefighters took nearly eight hours to extinguish the blaze.

A total of 219 homes were damaged in the blast, while another 220 were inspected and declared safe.

KUALA LUMPUR – Gempa bumi sederhana dilaporkan berlaku di bahagian utara Sumatera, Indonesia pukul 3.49 pagi tadi.

Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia) memaklumkan, gempa bumi itu direkodkan pada ukuran 5.6 magnitud.

Katanya, ia berpusat pada koordinat 2.0° Utara dan 96.7° Timur, iaitu sekitar 125 kilometer ke tenggara Simeulue, Indonesia.

“Kedalaman gempa dianggarkan sekitar 32 kilometer di bawah permukaan bumi.

Sehubungan itu, orang ramai dinasihatkan agar sentiasa merujuk maklumat sahih daripada MetMalaysia melalui saluran rasmi seperti laman sesawang mygempa.met.gov.my, media sosial rasmi MetMalaysia serta aplikasi mudah alih MyCuaca. – MalaysiaGazette

JAKARTA: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's western Aceh province early Tuesday (April 8) without triggering large waves, according to the country's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency.

Initially, the agency reported the quake's magnitude as 6.2 before revising it downward.

No tsunami warning was issued, as the quake was unlikely to generate large waves.

"No serious damage or casualties were reported in the tremor-hit areas, especially in Simeulue Regency, which was affected the most," Zopan A, a senior official from the provincial Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency, told Xinhua.

Indonesia, an archipelagic nation, is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. The country also has 127 active volcanoes and frequent tectonic activity. - Xinhua

SEBERANG PRAI: The Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) has vowed to take stern action against illegal structures built on gas pipeline reserve land to prevent an incident like the Putra Heights fire.

Mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid said, so far, they had not approved any structures along gas pipeline reserve land in Seberang Prai.

He said this was particularly in areas with high population density near the pipelines or other utilities that were above or below ground.

"The MBSP takes the safety issues related to utility routes such as gas pipelines very seriously," he told the New Straits Times.

Elaborating, Baderul Amin said previously, there was a temple on the gas pipeline land. "The structure has been ordered to be demolished and the action has been carried out," he added.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow called for the implementation of stricter enforcement measures concerning gas pipeline safety, particularly in industrial zones across the state.

Chow said state Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye had instructed the MBSP to intensify monitoring of gas pipelines on the mainland, which were more concentrated than on the island.

He said given the severity of the recent event, the state government had recognised the urgent need for robust enforcement.

Baderul Amin said any form of development must first obtain approval from the local authority through planning plans (PKM) and related technical plans.

"The gas pipeline reserve land or utility routes should also be fenced to prevent trespassing, misuse or unauthorised constructions," he said.

He said among the actions implemented or proposed included the utility companies managing high-risk routes to conduct regular monitoring, including periodic risk assessments and safety audits of the routes, structures and physical conditions at their respective sites.

"The monitoring reports must be submitted to the MBSP for record-keeping and shared with the local authorities, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and other relevant safety agencies.

"The use of modern technology such as drones, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and sensors is highly encouraged to ensure that continuous monitoring can be carried out more effectively," he said.

He said periodic joint inspections between utility companies and technical agencies, such as PBT, DOSH, Fire and Rescue Department, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Telekom, Public Works Department and others should also be conducted to ensure safety and technical compliance are always up-to-date.

On April 1, a massive fire broke out at a Petronas gas pipeline in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, causing widespread panic as flames shot up in the air.

The heat from the flames — felt from kilometres away — had melted vehicles and plastic objects within a wide radius of the pipeline.

Damage to homes affected by the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire was estimated at RM65.4 million, including the cost of wiring repairs.

Inspections were carried out on 437 homes, which had been categorised as completely destroyed, partially damaged, or affected but not burnt.