KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 — Questions surrounding the gas pipeline fire incident in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, which shook the nation on Tuesday morning, linger for the third day, with the preliminary results of its investigation to be made known today.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said that Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan would present a detailed update, addressing both the technical causes and potential negligence or criminal factors behind the incident.
The technical investigation is being conducted by several agencies, including the Public Works Department (JKR), the Occupational Safety and Health Department, Petronas and other technical bodies, while the police are looking into any criminal or negligent actions.
The investigation team will also review viral videos circulating on social media about the fire. If necessary, authorities may contact those who posted videos for further verification
At the same time, the rehabilitation process of the affected areas was also carried out in stages after the security level inspection was completed, with 85 affected houses confirmed safe and the residents of the premises allowed to return to their respective homes.
According to Amirudin, based on the findings of the State Disaster Management Committee, 87 houses were completely destroyed and uninhabitable following the incident
In this regard, he said the decision on the temporary settlement for the victims would be finalised by Monday, after discussions with Petronas and the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU).
“There are many offers, for example, Airbnb has offered houses for victims whose homes have been completely destroyed (total loss), for several months," he said.
In the meantime, Amirudin said the victims will be housed at the PPS set up by the authorities.
Amirudin was speaking at a press conference at the State Secretary Building (SUK) yesterday after chairing the State Disaster Management Committee Meeting with 39 state and Federal government agencies.
A major fire involving a Petronas gas line at 8.10 am on Tuesday saw the fire rise to a height of more than 30 metres with temperatures reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius, transforming the landscape of the area into a large crater at a depth of 32 feet and about 70 x 80 feet, as well as destroying rows of homes and property within a 500-metre radius of the incident site.
— Bernama
