Unidentified gas leak halts construction at SK Beladin

Gas escaping from the borehole during drilling works at the construction site of a covered open multipurpose hall for SK Beladin, Kampung Hilir Beladin, Pusa. Source: Bomba

By DayakDaily Team

PUSA, July 6: Construction works at a project site in SK Beladin, Kampung Hilir Beladin, here were suspended after an unidentified gas was detected escaping from a borehole drilled during a soil investigation.

In a report from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), a call was received at 11.10am today, and firefighters from the Saratok station were deployed along with a hazardous materials (HAZMAT) team from the Tabuan Jaya station.

According to the preliminary report, on July 4 at around 9am, a private contractor under the Betong Public Works Department (JKR) was carrying out soil investigation borehole drilling works at the construction site of a covered open multipurpose hall for SK Beladin, Kampung Hilir Beladin, Pusa.

During the drilling works, gas of an unidentified type was found to be escaping from the borehole. Following the discovery, all work was stopped immediately, and the matter was reported to JKR.

Today, a JKR officer sought advice from the Betong station on the next course of action and was advised that a police report be lodged and that the case be referred to the State Operations Control Centre (PGO) for further action.

The latest information also indicated that the sound of gas escaping from the borehole could still be heard on the same day. As of 11.48 am, the borehole from which gas had been reported escaping remained active.

The operations response team established a safety perimeter 30 metres from the site to prevent members of the public from approaching the hazardous area.

The contractor was also advised to suspend all drilling works at the site until further investigations are completed and the identity of the gas has been determined.

Monitoring is expected to continue as a precautionary measure. — DayakDaily