Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said other factors such as soil movement at the site also need to be looked into, Bernama reported.
“Some say it was only caused by human factors. However, there is also the possibility of ground movement below the surface.
“High pressure from the water flow and various other factors could also be the cause,” he said when met at the incident control post along Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, today.
Razarudin said more than 10 agencies, such as the fire and rescue department and the forensic team, were involved in the investigations at the site.
“The investigation includes a geotechnical perspective, namely the condition of the land in the ‘ground zero’ area. That is an important part of the investigation.
“The police, fire and forensic teams are also carrying out their respective duties at the location. The fire team will ensure that all forensic investigations are carried out with strict safety monitoring,” he said.
According to him, this was done to determine the strength of the soil at the incident location as well as to avoid the risk of other unwanted incidents such as landslides.
Razarudin said the safety and wellbeing of visitors in the area was the main issue being stressed by the authorities.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian fire and rescue department today sent a team of technical investigators to the Petronas main control centre in Segamat, Johor, as part of its investigation into the fire.
Its director-general, Nor Hisham Mohammad, said they also aim to obtain gas pipeline log data, including gas pressure factors, to assist in the investigation.
“We are focusing the investigation from the technical aspects. So our five-member team has been appointed as technical investigators and has been sent to Segamat to gather more information and obtain log data from as far as three weeks ago,” he said after an event at KLIA today.
The Petronas gas pipeline fire at 8.10am last Tuesday resulted in flames rising more than 30m high with temperatures reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius. It took almost eight hours to be completely extinguished.
The health ministry announced that 38 of the total 146 victims of the tragedy are still being treated in hospitals and clinics.
Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said so far, out of the 437 houses that have been inspected, 81 houses have been confirmed to be total losses with more than 40% of the structure burnt while the other 81 houses have been categorised as partially destroyed.
He also said 57 houses were also burnt but did not suffer any structural damage while the remaining 218 houses were found to be unaffected by the incident.
Damage to the houses is estimated at RM65.4 million.