PETALING JAYA: Though the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire has long been extinguished, the trauma lingers for displaced residents like Andy Fong.
Several days ago, while having a meal with his family at a restaurant not far from his partially damaged house at Amber Putra Harmoni, a “bang” from the kitchen rang out.
It was nothing more than a common pop from a stove, but the family fled the restaurant in fear.
For Fong, his wife and their son, the psychological scars of the April 1 disaster have left them deeply traumatised.
“We dared not enter the restaurant again and drove off quickly.
“Even seeing a gas cylinder now sends shivers down my spine.
“Two days ago, my son was shaken by a recent thunderstorm,” said the 53-year-old sales executive when met yesterday.
The family was gathering razed plants and other damaged items at their house, about 200m from the site of the gas blast.
Fong said they were grateful to have escaped.
His wife, her forearm in a bandage due to burns from the intense heat, agreed.
Fong, who was allowed to return home to inspect his property, said he managed to acquire a rented house nearby for temporary occupancy.
“Everything plastic melted away when the fire flared up.
“Even my artificial grass and plaster ceiling were destroyed. Heavy rain has made it worse.
“We hope a more thorough and detailed forensics inspection will be conducted on affected houses.”
Fong’s neighbour, who only wanted to be known as Liew, echoed similar views.
“The seals, glass windows and plastics in my house were all damaged.
“It just took a few minutes to melt the plastics and rubber on the cars.
“The safety of the house is in question after being exposed to such high heat,” said Liew, who is in his 50s.
Both Fong and Liew, who have lived in the township for over 15 years, said they hope the disbursement of aid and compensation would be carried out promptly so that they could initiate repairs to their properties.
“We hope the relevant authorities will expedite the compensation,” Liew said.
While the damage to his house appears repairable, his adjacent neighbours were not so fortunate as many of their properties were marked as “total loss” or damaged beyond repair by insurance adjusters.
Among the badly damaged properties was one that had just been extensively renovated recently.
The gas pipeline blast almost two weeks ago sent up flames of over 30m high with temperatures reaching 1,000°C.
It took nearly eight hours to put out the fire which destroyed 81 houses and partially damaged about 140 others.
