Fiery blaze: The fireball of the gas pipeline blast at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights. — ART CHEN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The usually sedate neighbourhood of Putra Heights was in total chaos – the sounds of sirens blared, people fled their homes, and soot and dust were everywhere.
A fire from a gas pipeline, which started with a huge mushroom cloud and shot flames reportedly rising 20 storeys high, struck the area and was visible all the way from along the LDP in Puchong.
Houses shook, and loud bangs were heard. The heat was so intense it was felt almost a kilometre away.
The plastic on cars and drapes melted, and metal gates were too hot to hold, with the heat damaging the external wiring of homes as well.
Images on social media showed carnage, with holes blown in houses and cars burnt.
Clothes hanging out to dry were also charred as the flames raged in the background.
Police, ambulance and the Fire and Rescue Department vehicles raced against the clock to put out the inferno. The fire began at about 8am and took almost eight hours to be put out.
Heroes in action: Firemen dousing out flames at residences that were damaged by the blast.— Bernama
Firemen worked hard to keep the fire from spreading as they waited for the gas in the pipeline to empty itself out.
The blaze was completely extinguished at 3.45pm yesterday, when the gas ran out.
The fire resulted in 78 homes and 10 shoplots in a neighbourhood along Persiaran Harmoni being damaged.
A total of 237 premises were affected by the fires, resulting in 305 victims.
Of that number, 125 sustained injuries and received medical treatment.
Some were referred to the Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Serdang Hospitals.
No fatalities were reported.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Razali Wan Ismail said 148 cars and 11 motorcycles were reported damaged as at 3.40pm yesterday.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Amid the chaos, Malaysians from all walks of life came to help.
The nearby Sri Maha Kaliamman temple became the medical base for authorities to carry out first aid work on residents.
Temple patrons also helped to ensure smooth traffic flow for first responders and allowed residents to take refuge.
Among those also at the scene assisting were Subang Jaya state assemblyman Michelle Ng and social activist and philanthropist Uncle Kentang.
The Putra Heights Mosque also opened its doors for dozens of evacuees to take shelter.
Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said more than 300 personnel across 20 agencies were deployed to aid the operations.
Teams from multiple stations were also deployed.
Nor Hisham said authorities will now “overhaul” the affected homes to prevent any possible fires.
“We expect the work to be completed in 24 hours,” he told reporters at the scene yesterday.
Nor Hisham said most victims suffered burns on exposed areas of the body.
For those looking to enter their homes again, he advised them to refer to safety personnel there.
“We understand there are those who want to take their medication, food supplies and more,” he said.
Earlier in the day, gas pipeline valves in the vicinity of the area were all shut as an added precaution.
This involved valves along Dengkil, Kampung Lombong in Puchong, Batu Tiga in Shah Alam and Meru, Klang.
