PUTRA HEIGHTS DISASTER: VOLUNTEERS MUST REGISTER TO JOIN MEGA GOTONG-ROYONG - POLICE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) – Volunteers wishing to participate in the mega gotong-royong programme to clean up areas affected by the gas pipeline disaster in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor, this Saturday and Sunday must register through the Selangor State Sports Council’s website.

Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said access to the affected area is limited and controlled by police personnel, and only those registered with Selangor Volunteers (Serve) will be allowed entry.

He said cleaning work will only be carried out around homes and areas certified safe by the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department and the Public Works Department.

"That is why we want everyone to register, to ensure that those involved only go to safe areas. The Subang Jaya City Council will lead and coordinate the programme," he told a press conference at the On-Site Control Centre in Putra Heights today.

Yesterday, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said around 1,000 volunteers are expected to take part in the clean-up and gotong-royong efforts in the gas pipeline fire area in Putra Heights this weekend.

Meanwhile, Hussein said the public is still not allowed to enter the ground zero area, as soil stabilisation work is ongoing before forensic investigations can commence.

He said the area has been declared a disaster zone, and the public is prohibited from entering to facilitate the movement of machinery and investigation teams.

The gas pipeline fire, which broke out at 8.10 am on April 1, saw flames soar over 30 metres high with temperatures reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius, and took nearly eight hours to be fully extinguished.

-- BERNAMA