An underground gas eruption was detected during drilling activities at the Northern Coastal Highway project site in Kampung Datuk, Kuala Lawas, northern Sarawak, on Wednesday.
The incident was reported to the Lawas Fire and Rescue Station at 12.33pm after workers noticed gas escaping from the ground at the construction site.
Following the report, a team of firefighters and personnel from the Lawas Operations Control Centre (PKO) was dispatched to the location to assess the situation and carry out monitoring works.
A spokesperson for the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department’s Operations Centre said the emergency team arrived at the site at 12.50pm after travelling about 18 kilometres.
Initial findings indicated that the incident occurred while contractors were conducting drilling works for the highway project.
According to the spokesperson, the drilling had reached a depth of approximately 45 metres before gas began erupting from beneath the ground.
“As of 1.25pm, gas was still being released from the affected area and continuous monitoring is being carried out,” he said in a statement.
As a precautionary measure, firefighters established a safety perimeter extending 30 metres from the site to prevent members of the public from entering the potentially hazardous area.
The contractor was also advised to temporarily suspend all drilling activities until further inspections are conducted by the relevant authorities.
A total of 10 personnel from the Lawas Fire and Rescue Station were involved in the monitoring operation, with the situation reported to be under control.
