LAWAS: One died while two others were injured after Petronas’ Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP) in Long Ugui, Lawas exploded at about 2pm Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Operations Centre (PGO) said a team from the Lawas Fire and Rescue station was dispatched to the scene after they received a report at 2.50pm.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the operation commander said the extent of the fire and explosion was estimated at a radius of 400 metres and that the fire also destroyed a motorcycle, an excavator, a bulldozer and a lorry.
“One victim, identified as Hadi Wiyono, was confirmed dead inside the excavator, while two others identified as Hendrick and Gabriel Meripa suffered burns on the limbs,” he said in a statement.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and it is understood that Petronas will issue a statement on the incident.
Meanwhile, Limbang Division Resident Sebi Abang has urged the public in the Long Ugui, Lawas area not to approach the SSGP project site following the blast incident reported.
Sebi, who is also Chairman of the Limbang Division Disaster Committee, also asked all parties not to speculate about the Long Ugui-Long Sukang pipeline incident.
“We will wait for the official report from the authorities,” he added.
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