‘We Lost Everything’: Families Left Devastated by Putra Heights Gas Pipeline Inferno

A massive gas pipeline explosion tore through Putra Heights on April 1, reducing homes and vehicles to ashes while forcing over 500 residents to evacuate.

The fire, which broke out around 8:10 AM, raged for hours before being fully extinguished at 3:45 PM. Flames reportedly soared as high as 500 metres, visible from kilometres away, causing panic and chaos across the neighbourhood.

Emergency responders, including 325 personnel from 11 agencies, tirelessly contained the inferno, but the damage was already done. Temporary road closures and power disruptions turned the once-peaceful residential area into ruins.

Homes, Vehicles, and Lives in Ruins

The fire’s impact was devastating, with 237 houses affected and nearly 200 completely uninhabitable. Authorities reported that the fire burned 88 buildings—including 78 homes and 10 shophouses—between 10% and 90%.

It also destroyed 225 vehicles and severely damaged another 174.

The structural integrity of several buildings remains a concern, with authorities conducting inspections to determine if demolitions are necessary.

Residents who managed to escape the flames have been left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, unable to salvage their belongings.

A Community in Despair

For the victims, life has turned upside down. Authorities have forced 529 individuals from 118 families into temporary shelters at the Putra Heights Mosque and the Subang Jaya City Council’s Dewan Camelia. Many are in urgent need of food, clothing, and medical aid.

The tragedy has also left many injured—111 victims are currently receiving treatment at hospitals, with 13 in critical condition. Survivors describe to Malay Mail the horror of fleeing their burning homes, with some sustaining burns and injuries in the process.

Masayuan Takbir, a mother of two, recalled running barefoot with her children, one of whom suffered severe burns. “I thought we were going to die. The heat was unbearable, and my child’s flesh was visible on his arm,” she said through tears.

Another victim, Rusman Abdul Samad, said he mistook the deafening noise for a plane flying overhead until he stepped outside and saw flames engulfing the area. “We had no time to take anything. We just ran,” he said.

Government and Petronas Promise Aid, But Uncertainty Remains

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited the site and announced immediate financial assistance of RM5,000 for homeowners whose properties were completely destroyed and RM2,500 for those with partial damage. However, he warned that rebuilding efforts could take a year or longer, leaving many residents uncertain about their future.

“The government, along with the Selangor state authorities and Petronas, will ensure that those affected receive support,” PM Anwar Ibrahim assured, adding that safety remains the top priority.

Petronas Gas Berhad (PGB) and Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB) stated that they are working closely with authorities to investigate the cause of the fire and ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again. Investigators are now looking into allegations that unauthorised digging near the gas pipeline reserve could have triggered the explosion.

A Long Road to Recovery

As authorities continue their investigations, displaced families remain in limbo, struggling to come to terms with the scale of their loss. Many are left wondering how long it will take before they can rebuild their homes and lives.

With homes destroyed, injuries to heal from, and an uncertain future ahead, victims of the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire face one of the hardest battles of their lives—finding the strength to start over from nothing.

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@kwongwah1910

一名心有余悸的女居民于中午12时30分左右，对着其他邻居哭诉她的家园已经遭烧到，她也不满为何要在当地进行挖掘工作（把地下天然气管移出来）。另外，国油天然气公司证实，是该公司当地主要管道起火，导致油气管爆炸引发大火。光华日报 #trendingnewsmalaysia petronas 国油

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