KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Thick smoke seen near the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE), beyond the Sentul Toll Plaza on Wednesday, is believed to have been caused by a burning streetlight.

Sentul district police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Bakri Abdul Salam said inspections by police and DUKE highway management found that the smoke originated from a streetlight that had caught fire, according to a report by Sinar Harian. 

“The fire was successfully extinguished and the incident did not involve any injuries or loss of life.

“Inspection findings showed that the smoke came from a burning streetlight and the fire was successfully extinguished,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

A video showing thick smoke engulfing the area near the highway had earlier gone viral on social media.

The footage also showed several vehicles, including motorcycles, passing through the area.

Social media users had claimed that the smoke was coming from a drain near the highway, although its actual source had not been established at the time.

Anuar Bakri said the incident occurred at Ramp 0.5, along the route from Greenwood towards the exit leading to Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).

He added that DUKE highway management was still handling follow-up action over the incident.