THE Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC) swiftly responded with remedial measures following an incident involving the airborne displacement of soil blocks, resulting in damage to the Jay Series Condominium.
It was reported that the damage affected some cars, a swimming pool and the awning of the rest area at the apartment.
The incident happened yesterday during a controlled rock-blasting operation for the Package 2 bypass road project, connecting Bandar Baru Ayer Itam and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.
PIC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said the contractor has been instructed to reduce drill depth and explosive weight, ensure safety measures such as ground coverage and sandbags, and increase the soil load with steel plates to reduce explosion impacts.
“The soil at the site is a laterite type. Since there was heavy rain the night before the incident, the laterite soil formed lumps which were propelled into the condominium area during the explosion,” Farizan, a former State Secretary, told a press conference at Komtar today.
PIC, a special purpose vehicle set up by the state government, leads the implementation of the Penang Silicon Island development and the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).
Nasfiza Mokkhtar, the Package 2 project director, said it was the 600th time that this rock blasting work was carried out, about 70 metres away from the condominium.
“The incident was a consequence of an air pocket within the rock, which acted as a volatile chamber for gas accumulation. During the explosive initiation, the air pocket acted as a catalyst for an intensified release of energy, propelling soil forcefully toward the adjacent Jay Series area.
“Remedial and additional safety measures have been proposed to prevent the reoccurrence of the incident,” she said.
Also present at the press conference were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai.
Chow expressed confidence that with the implemented remedial action, the incident would not recur.
“By increasing the thickness of the cover (netting) and reducing the amount of explosives, we anticipate a decreased impact of the explosive force. Enlarging the coverage area is among the actions taken.
“We extend our apologies to those affected by the damage caused in this incident,” Chow said.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Siti Noor Nabilah Noorazis