A fire at a gas pipeline operated by Malaysian state energy firm Petronas has injured at least 63 people on the outskirts of the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur, according to local authorities.
The towering inferno near a gas station in Putra Heights in the country’s central Selangor state was visible for kilometres. National oil company Petronas said in a statement that the fire broke out at one of its gas pipelines at 8:10am local time (10:10am AEST).
Selangor fire department director Wan Md Razali initially reported that six of the injured were sent to hospital for treatment, but that figure has since been revised up to include at least 63 injured victims.
Homes in Puchong, near to Kuala Lumpur, were seen surrounded by large fireballs erupting from the gas pipeline. (Reuters: Stringer)
Emergency operations to try to tackle the blaze are ongoing.
There were people trapped in houses in Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru and rescue efforts were ongoing, according to Selangor Disaster Management Committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi.
At least 49 houses were believed to have been impacted by the blaze, the local fire department said.
The Selangor Disaster Management unit also said that several people suffered burns and would be taken to hospital for treatment, but no deaths had been reported, the extent of the full damage is being assessed and the valve to the pipeline had been shut, which would eventually snuff out the fire.
Three gas stations nearby the fire site were not affected but have been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, Petronas said, adding that investigations are still underway.
Residents in Putra Heights in Malaysia’s central Selangor state watched on as flames rose above their homes. (AP: Amir Afiq)
Images carried by local news outlets and footage shared on social media showed a massive fire and a huge orange flame on the horizon with smoke billowing out.
A large flame rose from a leak in a pipeline that is about 500 metres long in the town of Puchong, the department said in a statement, adding Petronas has closed the valve on the burning pipeline.
The towering inferno in Putra Heights was visible from kilometres away. (AP)
Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari said the fire department had quickly evacuated residents from nearby homes as a safety measure. He said they would be temporarily placed in a mosque nearby until the situation is under control.
Petronas said it was working closely with all relevant parties to ensure the safety of the surrounding community, environment and security of gas supply to the country.
Pictures and videos of the fireball went viral on social media, with some residents saying they felt the doors and windows of their homes shaking.
Malaysia is a Muslim-majority nation, and residents enjoying a public holiday for Eid celebrations had to flee the area due to the fire.
“All of a sudden, we heard a loud bang and then total chaos,” a resident living 200 metres away from the fire was quoted as saying by the The Star newspaper.
“We immediately left the house and soon saw other residents leaving too.”
The fire department said it was still investigating the extent of the fire in the residential area.
