Putra Heights gas pipeline inferno: A day of chaos, questions linger

Malaysians were jolted on the second day of Hari Raya when a gas pipeline leak near housing estates in Putra Heights, some 30km from Kuala Lumpur, triggered an inferno that left many injured and caused massive destruction.

According to Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad, 305 people were injured. The Health Ministry, in an update this evening, said that as of 6pm, 100 victims had received treatment at various hospitals in the Klang Valley, including Hospital Putrajaya, Hospital Serdang, and Hospital Cyberjaya.

What happened?

Residents in and around Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, were startled when an explosion rocked the area at 8.10am.

Videos and images of the blaze quickly spread via instant messaging services and social media, showing flames shooting as high as a 20-storey building – visible from several kilometres away.

National oil company Petronas confirmed this morning that a fire had occurred at its main gas pipeline. It said, “the affected pipeline has been isolated, and all relevant stakeholders have been informed”.

The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department was alerted at 8.23am. Firefighters battled the raging flames for hours before finally extinguishing the blaze by 3.45pm.

What was the extent of the damage?

As the fire raged, residents fled their homes, with many seeking shelter and medical attention at the Sri Maha Kaliamman Hindu temple, Putra Heights Mosque, and Nurul Iman Mosque in Kampung Tengah, Puchong.

The Fire and Rescue Department reported that 237 homes were affected, while 365 vehicles were damaged.

How will the government assist victims?

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari visited the site this evening. Anwar later announced that homeowners whose properties were destroyed would receive RM5,000, while those with partially damaged homes would get RM2,500.

He added that Putrajaya would consider increasing the financial aid if necessary. Discussions are ongoing between the Federal and Selangor governments and Petronas to coordinate recovery efforts and ensure victims receive assistance.

Anwar acknowledged that repairs and restoration could take time, stressing that relevant agencies had been instructed to engage with affected residents to determine the best course of action.

“Our priority is to ensure victims have a more comfortable living space while waiting for repairs,” he said.

Lingering questions

The cause of the explosion remains unclear as investigations continue.

Earlier, national news agency Bernama quoted former Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid, who stressed that oil and gas companies must adhere to international safety standards, such as the Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code (NFPA 55). This standard requires a safety buffer zone to minimise explosion and fire risks in the event of a gas leak.

This raises several critical questions:

Amirudin, in a statement at 10.27pm, urged those with information and evidence of any wrongdoing that resulted in the incident to report it to the police.

Main image: Sadiq Asyraf/Prime Minister Office