LAWAS: A fire at the starting point of the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP) sent up a massive ball of flame, which lit up the sky here in the early hours of the morning yesterday.
The fire was caused by an explosion at the pipeline near here about 2am.
While an investigation into the cause of the fire has been started, Petronas in a statement yesterday said the incident was under control and no injuries had been reported.
"The incident has not affected any nearby communities along the pipeline, the closest of which is situated 9km away from the incident area," said the statement issued by its Sarawak regional office.
Local residents were awakened as the sky lit up like an early sunrise.
"It was like an early sunrise until someone said it was a gas explosion," said John Sakai of Long Tuma.
John said the whole town stirred as many residents went out to the streets to catch a glimpse of the fiery sky, which lasted until 4am.
The flames could also be seen from nearby districts in Brunei and Sabah.
State Fire and Rescue Department director Nor Hisham Mohamad said a team of six firefighters was sent to the scene but the fire was already under control by Petronas' first responders upon their arrival.
"We are working with Petronas to identify the cause of the incident," said Nor Hisham.
The 512km SSGP is part of the RM3.8 billion Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) in Kimanis, which accommodates 65 million standard cubic feet per day of gas from the Kinabalu Non-Associated Gas Field southwest of Sabah via a 120km underwater pipeline.
The SOGT, commissioned on Dec 18 last year, is the biggest integrated terminal in the country with the ability to receive, handle and export oil and gas produced offshore.
Meanwhile, Ba'Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian wants a thorough investigation of the incident as the pipeline goes through six villages in Lawas.
"There are more than 2,000 people living along the pipeline, including my relatives in Long Berulut.
"If this can happen today, it can happen again."