A break in the Kanbuak to Miang-Kalay gas pipeline on December 3th, in Mon State’s Thanphyuzayat Township, continues to leak natural gas out into the surrounding area. The site of the leak, located between the outskirts of Thanphyuzayat Town and the nearby village of Kyagun, is being heavily guarded by Infantry Battalion (IB) no 62, and people’s militias from Thanphyuzayat Town and Kyagun.
According to area residents, the pipe ruptured late on the night of December 3th, in the middle of the farmlands that lie between the train station located at the outskirts of Thanphyuzayat Town and Kyagun village. Reportedly IB no. 62 and local people’s militias arrived at the sight immediately, and have for the past several days barred residents from venturing within 20 yards of the site.
Thanphyuzayat Town is comprised of over 10,000 households; Kyagun village is much smaller. No injuries or damage to crops have been reported, as the gas leak was not accompanied by an explosion or fire.
“We heard the sound [of the pipe breaking] at night, but it was not so loud, it was not a gas explosion, it is a gas leak. The gas leak is from three cracks in the same place [on the pipe]. Now the soldiers are warning us about that area, nobody can go to that area” a Thanphyuzayart Town resident who lives near the train station informed IMNA.
“It happened last week [on December 3th] but we can still hear the sound of the gas [escaping from the crack]. After the gas began leaking, the security became very tight around the gas leak and in the area,” he added.
Area residents and IMNA’s field reporter learned that the Thanphyuzayat Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) has issued a regional warning, informing the township’s residents that walking within 20 yards of the leak site will result in trespassers being shot at by the soldiers guarding the area. According to field reporters, the Thanphyuzayat TPDC is posting announcements bearing the aforementioned warning in Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) leaders’ offices in each village in Thanphyuzayat Township.
According to a farmer whose lands the pipeline length in question crosses, the gas leak stems from three horizontal cracks in the gas pipeline’s surface. Two of the cracks have not yet broken the surface of the pipeline; the third crack has completely ruptured the gas pipe. A monk living near the site informed IMNA that the break continues to leak natural gas, despite repeated attempts made by Thanphyuzayat authorities and IB no 62 soldiers to patch it.
“The place that it happened is not near the houses, but many people live around that place. The people are afraid of the gas, and also now the authorities have warned that no one can go in that area” he added.
An explosion in the Kanbuak to Miang-Kalay gas pipeline, between two small villages in Thanphyuzayart on November 15th of this year, has been attributed to Mon rebel activity by TPDC authorities; IMNA’s November 28th report detailed how villages throughout the township have been ordered to bury exposed sections of the pipeline as a means of discouraging further attacks from rebel groups. No reports have surfaced yet as to whether the Thanphyuzayat authorities will ascribe this most recent incident to a foul play.
