Shocked villagers thought the explosion was end of the world

By Simon Peter

KUCHING, June 10, 2014: It was as if a huge bomb has exploded in the wee hours of this morning, brightening up the sky with a myriad of colours.

Picture: The villagers thought that it was the end of the world on hearing the huge explosion

(Picture courtesy of Lynette Tan)

The explosion could be heard in Lawas, a distance of about 20km.

Shocked people in Lawas town must be wondering what it was about.

Villagers residing some kilometres from the Petronas SSGP pipeline, some 30 minutes drive on logging road from Lawas town, were so scared of the huge explosion that they thought it was the end of the world as prophesied in the Bible.

"Yes, they started running away in the darkness," Ba'Kelalan State Assemblyman Baru Bian told reporters here today.

He said he was told that the villagers of Long Resina and Long Beriwen were scared when the chilly morning was rocked by the explosion.

"You can say that the explosion could be likened to an atomic bomb exploding," State PKR chief said.

He was told that the explosion was caused by a leakage on the pipeline.

Baru said he is concerned with the safety of the villagers from several longhouses along the pipeline in Lawas district.

Night sky brightens up after the explosion            (Picture courtesy of Lynette Tan)      

"The question is whether the gas pipe is safe or not, although we have been assured by Petronas before that the people living along the pipeline have nothing to worry about.                                                    

"Now that there was an explosion, I am worried for the safety of these villagers," he said, urging the relevant authorities and Petronas to conduct a thorough investigation on the safety aspect of the pipeline.

"The result of the investigation should be made public," he said.

Meanwhile, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd confirms that a fire incident has occurred at about 2.00am

today at the SSGP pipeline.

"The incident occurred at a location of the SSGP in the District of Lawas, Sarawak, about 135

km from the Sabah Oil & Gas Terminal in Kimanis, Sabah, which is the starting point of the

pipeline.

" The fire has been extinguished. There was no injury reported and the incident has not

affected any of the communities along the pipeline, the closest of which are located nine

kilometres away from the incident area," Petronas Sarawak Regional office said in a statement.

 The authorities have been informed and an investigation on the incident is being carried out.

 PETRONAS will provide more information on the incident when it is in the position to do so.