By Fitri Hazim Hazam
SHAH ALAM, Oct 13 — The Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) today undertook measures to prevent pollutants and fire extinguishing materials from entering waterways that supply the Semenyih treatment plant.
This was done following a road crash where a palm oil tanker burst into flames at Km44.4 of the North–South Expressway Central Link near the Nilai (U) exit, Negeri Sembilan, yesterday.
Luas said the effort, done with Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, involved adding activated charcoal and oil-absorbent pads in drains near the crash site, as materials from extinguishing the fire and leaks from the tanker could pollute the nearby Sungai Limau Manis and Sungai Semenyih.
“This could impact the Semenyih water treatment plant, which is about 6.6km from the crash site.
“The tanker burst into flames after crashing into a barrier. Checks revealed no leaks on the tanker nor pollutants flowing into the nearby river,” Luas said in a Facebook post yesterday.
[caption id="attachment_375743" align="aligncenter" width="568"]
A palm oil tanker seen in flames at Km44.4 of the North–South Expressway Central Link near the Nilai (U) exit, Negeri Sembilan, on October 12, 2024, after it crashed into a road divider. — Picture via FACEBOOK/LEMBAGA URUS AIR SELANGOR[/caption]
Luas said highway concessionaire PLUS Bhd placed sawdust and sandbags on the road and built soil piles in nearby drains to block the flow of pollutants into nearby water sources.
“Firefighting and oil-transfer works are done. Cleanup at the site and moving of the vehicle will be done by a PLUS-appointed contractor.
“The Luas team is on site to monitor the situation until cleanup and moving is done, and there is no longer any risk of pollutants flowing from the location,” it said.
Yesterday, a palm oil tanker en route from Jasin, Melaka, to Klang crashed and burst into flames. The incident involved two other vehicles.
The 53-year-old man driving the tanker is believed to have lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a Proton Saga on the right lane, spinning the car until it ended up in the middle of the highway.
