Malaysia gas pipeline fire: No foul play, negligence found, say police

An investigation by Malaysia's Occupational Safety and Health Department has revealed that ground instability led to the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights in Puchong, Selangor, on April 1.

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SHAH ALAM - An investigation by Malaysia's Occupational Safety and Health Department has revealed that ground instability led to the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights in Puchong, Selangor, on April 1.

Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che Amat explained that the lower part of the pipeline was not adequately supported by the soft and moist ground. "This caused a physical failure at the pipe segment at the location of the blast, resulting in gas leakage, which ignited and exploded," he said.

Mr Husdin added that the weak soil caused the pipe to move repeatedly, known as cyclic loading, generating stress lines and fatigue striations on the pipe surface.

Metallographic analysis indicated that tensile overload was the primary cause of the failure, developing slowly until it resulted in ductile failure, releasing gas and triggering a fire.

"In conclusion, the pipe failure was due to the ground beneath it not being strong enough to support its weight and pressure, causing instability, leakage and eventually an explosion," Mr Husdin said.