SUBANG JAYA: Four more metres of gas pipe have yet to be excavated from the Putra Heights gas explosion site.
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, when met at ground zero of the site on Wednesday (April 30), said that weather conditions had made works difficult.
Earlier, Comm Hussein allowed members of the media into ground zero to inspect current works in the area.
“We have taken three specimens, which are around 16 metres long, and we have one more that is around four to five metres long and would need to be excavated for investigations.
“I estimate that investigations here would last for a week, where we need to remove that last piece.
“After that, the scene will be handed over to PETRONAS for repair works,” he said, adding that soil samples have also been taken for investigations.
Regarding the remains of the excavator that was believed to have been buried following the explosion, he said that the authorities had identified its general area.
“The location is outside our digging zone. If we do so now, it will disrupt work as you cannot dig in multiple areas at the same time.
“This will be done afterwards,” he said.
He added that the general area was detected via several methods including ground penetrating radar and statements from the owner.
The gas pipeline fire on April 1 caused widespread destruction.
A total of 81 homes were reported to have been destroyed with more than 40% structural damage, another 81 were partially destroyed, 57 were affected but not burned, while 218 homes, including those in Kampung Tengah Puchong, were unaffected.
