PEKAN: The nauseating chemical odour at Sungai Teritip near Kampung Palas along Jalan Pekan-Rompin here on Sept 1 was caused by an oil-based waste.
Pekan Disaster Management Committee, in a statement, said the Department of Environment had gone to the site following a report lodged by the district Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) on Sept 1.
"The DoE and Fire and Rescue Department Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) unit were deployed to the scene to investigate. Checks revealed the odour was due to oil waste disposed straight into Sungai Teritip.
"Due to the presence of residential areas nearby, the disaster management committee along with Hazmat had conducted air and chemical level (gas) monitoring. The air quality (level of hazard) readings were normal.
"Samples have been collected in the vicinity and sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis. The DID has completed the water containment measures at Sungai Teritip and now clean-up works are ongoing," said the statement.
The disaster management committee advised residents in the vicinity to wear facemasks and not to catch fish along the Sungai Teritip water channel.
"Those who experience symptoms such as itchy skin, watery eyes, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness are advised to contact the Nenasi health clinic," it read.
The statement said investigations are being carried out to identify the culprit, and motorists who used the stretch between 6pm and 8pm on Aug 30 with dash cam footage are urged to come forward to assist by contacting DoE at 09-5730636 or 019-9151953.
Yesterday, Bebar assemblyman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff advised residents including Orang Asli villages at Kampung Serun and Kampung Chenkeroh to avoid fishing activities, and consuming the Sungai Teritip water.
On Aug 29, an illegal dumping site was detected at Sungai Balok in Kuantan where foul odours and oil layers were spotted on the surface of the river.