SESB: Cable snapped due to overload
Published on: Wednesday, June 19, 2019
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) clarified the cable explosion, which occurred in front of a tyre shop at Jalan Mangga on May 28, resulted from a power overload in that part of Kolombong.
A section of the cable which suddenly snapped amid loud explosions around 11am, caused panic to the tyre shop owner as the live cable landed on the front bonnet of a Toyota Hilux belonging to the shop which was parked on the driveway.
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For a moment there were concerns that the intensity of the continuous sparks could cause explosion to the vehicle.
The tyre shop owner, identified only as George, said the intensity of the sparks shattered the windscreen and damaged the paint of the vehicle.
“All of us were in panic and couldn’t do anything for fear that we will get electrocuted. We were also worried that the sparks could ignite the premises,” he said.
To make matters worse, the tip of the cable that fell onto the ground eventually came in contact with the nearby metal drain grating which could also have caused serious electrocution to anyone who might have been there.
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A police report was lodged at the Inanam police station at 1.35pm over the incident, which was the second there in two weeks.
“I never thought such a thing could have happened in front of my shop this morning,” he said, adding that he was glad there were no customers around then.
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He urged SESB to conduct a thorough check on the transmission lines and other related equipment in this part of the Light Industrial Estate to prevent a repeat of this incident.
A concerned Daily Express’s reader who contacted Hotline believed there was a short circuit that caused a heat build-up at the nearby substation which caused the cable insulator to melt.
“This is very dangerous because the sparks can lead to a fire,” he added.
A SESB spokeswoman said preventive measures and restorations were successfully carried out on the same day.
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