PETALING JAYA: Seventy-year-old retiree Harban Singh was jogging near Putra Heights when he witnessed a towering inferno that left him shaken.
Harban saw the fire around 8.20am during his morning jog.
"I saw the fire at 8.20am when I was jogging. Now it's nearly 12pm, so it's been burning for close to four hours. It is very serious," said Harban.
"I was shocked because it was a monster fire," he added.
Harban said the size of the inferno had reduced slightly since the morning.
"The firemen managed to put some of it out. But it is still serious," added Harban.
According to Harban, some houses and cars near the fire were burnt.
"Some house and car windows nearby have cracked and even broken. So many people escaped their houses out of fear," said Harban.
Harban lives in USJ9 and is currently looking after his sister’s home in Putra Heights.
Meanwhile, local resident Kow Swee Mun said his friend’s car was struck by debris despite being near the Putra Heights toll, about 5km from the fire.
"His car was filled with sand, and he was very shocked," said Kow briefly.
The Star photographer Samuel Ong was at Kampung Seri Aman, about 1km from the fire scene.
"It was very hot. Even though I was standing opposite the river, I could still feel the heat," said Ong.
Ong said there were many curious onlookers who stopped by to take pictures.
"They were mostly curious," added Ong.
The towering inferno in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, is visible from kilometres away.
Fire and Rescue Department teams from the Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, and Puchong fire stations have been deployed.
Images and videos of the inferno have flooded social media, with one video showing the damage caused by the explosion to a nearby house.
Holes in the wall of the house were visible, possibly caused by shrapnel from the initial explosion.
Clothes hanging out to dry were singed and charred as the flames raged on in the background.
