Excavation carried out before Malaysia gas pipeline blast: Police

Early police investigations into the Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion have revealed that heavy excavation work was carried out by a contractor just 30m from the location of the April 1 incident, said Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan.

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PETALING JAYA, Selangor - Early police investigations into the Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion have revealed that heavy excavation work was carried out by a contractor just 30m from the location of the April 1 incident, said Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan.

Datuk Hussein said an excavator and a backhoe were used during work carried out to replace an existing underground sewerage system in the area, and the work had ceased on March 30.

He said the excavator is believed to be buried in the soil after the gas pipeline blast.

"There was a backhoe and an excavator used to carry out the work. The backhoe was removed from the site a day before the incident, while the excavator was left behind," he said.

On April 1, a massive fire triggered by a gas pipeline leak forced residents to flee their homes and injured more than 100 people during Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations in the town of Puchong in the state of Selangor.