Gas Explosion Damages 190 Houses, Injures 112 People; 4 Fuel Valves Shut Off Awaiting Fire to Extinguish Itself

(Kuala Lumpur, 1st) As of 3:40 PM, the number of houses damaged in the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights has increased to 190, affecting 148 cars and 11 motorcycles.
 Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Director Wan Mohammad Razali issued a statement this afternoon saying that it has been determined that the houses and vehicles suffered varying degrees of damage due to the fire and high temperatures.
 However, he pointed out that the cleanup and inspection work is in full swing.
 Earlier, Selangor Deputy Police Chief Mohammad Zaini stated that the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights has resulted in 112 injuries.
 He said the 112 injured were mainly from Harmoni Gardens and Kampung Kuala Sungai Bharu, and 63 of them were sent to Serdang, Serdang, and Putrajaya hospitals for further treatment due to burns, breathing problems, and wounds.
 “The remaining 49 victims received initial treatment at the Sri Maha Kaliamman Temple in Subang Jaya.”
 He said this at a press conference held at the Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department and Royal Police Special Operations Center.
 Mohammad Zaini mentioned that two temporary evacuation centers have currently been opened, namely Noor Eman Mosque and Putra Heights Mosque, to accommodate the victims.
 He said that so far, no fatalities have been reported, but investigations are ongoing.
 Fire Department Director Datuk Noor Hisham pointed out that Petronas has shut down four main gas pipeline valves located at Luncur, Puchong, Batu Ticah, and Jalan Tengah to release the remaining gas.
 He said the distance from the first valve to the fourth valve is 32 kilometers, and the fourth valve was closed at 11:48 AM. It is expected to take 4 hours to release all the gas, after which the fire will weaken and be extinguished.
 He said the Fire Department is not facing a water shortage problem but is focused on releasing the gas to let the fire extinguish itself. As of 1:30 PM, the pressure reading of the pipeline is at 8%, compared to 50% in the morning.
 He also urged the public with family members at the accident site to provide information to assist with evacuation.
 “We will start the second round of work, which is to monitor victims who may be trapped at home and plastics and hydrocarbons left behind after the accident so that the fire team can enter to extinguish the fire if necessary.”
 Earlier, Selangor Chief Minister Datuk Seri Amiruddin stated that the authorities have rescued 82 victims, including 12 injured people.
 He said in a statement that all the victims have been treated at Noor Eman Mosque and Putra Heights Mosque and then settled in the multi-purpose halls of the temporary evacuation centers at the mosques.
 He urged the public not to approach the fire scene as the Fire Department's primary task is to control the fire and rescue victims.
 He said that since 8:10 AM, a total of 78 firefighters have participated in the firefighting efforts, and they are still working hard to extinguish the fire.
 “The fire is still fierce because there is still residual gas in the gas pipeline, which has caused flames in the Putra Harmoni Road area.”
 Furthermore, according to Malaysian National News Agency observation, several injured people have been transported to Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang since 9:00 AM, and the hospital's emergency department is prepared to receive and treat the casualties of this accident.
 Hospital staff disclosed that the hospital has temporarily closed non-critical and semi-critical areas to prioritize space for the victims to ensure smoother treatment processes.

As of 1:55 PM, the fire caused by the gas pipeline leak at the Putra Height Putra Harmoni section in Subang Jaya has gradually reduced in scope. Image Source: Selangor Fire and Rescue Department