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SUBANG JAYA, Selangor: A massive blaze that erupted at a Petronas gas pipeline in Puchong's Putra Heights on Tuesday (Apr 1) morning has left 145 individuals including three children injured, with 67 still receiving medical care, according to authorities. 

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said 41 victims had been discharged, while 37 others had sought medical attention from general practitioners and private hospitals.

"There are 28 patients seeking treatment here, another 22 at Cyberjaya Hospital, Putrajaya 13, and two at Ampang Hospital," he said when met by media at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, adding that treatment was mostly for second-degree burns. 

Dzulkefly said that all victims were in a stable condition. 

Authorities initially said that 112 were injured and 63 hospitalised before updating the numbers. 

“The fire involved a leaking Petronas gas pipeline, with an estimated 500m of the pipeline engulfed in flames,” said Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar on Tuesday morning, as quoted by news outlet Malay Mail.

Petronas has closed the valve on the burning pipeline, according to the department. 

Some media reports said the pipeline had burst, and residents told state news agency Bernama that they felt tremors at about 8am when this happened.

Victims suffered burns, breathing difficulties, and other injuries and several homes have also caught fire following the incident, according to authorities, with firefighters working to rescue trapped residents and provide aid to victims at a temporary relief centre in Masjid Putra Heights. 

Residents in the surrounding area were evacuated as a precaution.

Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari said that the fire had been completely extinguished by 3.45pm, nearly eight hours after it started.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon, Amirudin said that a total of 305 residents had been rescued and relocated as of 5pm. 

The Fire and Rescue Department said in an update at 3.40pm that 190 homes and 159 vehicles were damaged in the inferno.

"So far, 190 houses, 148 cars, and 11 motorcycles have been identified as having suffered various damages due to fire and heat. Overhaul and cooling work for the house fires is also underway," the department director, Razali Wan Ismail said, as quoted by the Malay Mail.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the authorities are probing the cause of the blaze.

“We will investigate what actually happened. I have given instructions to the fire and rescue department,” he said, as quoted by Bernama.

Local media reported that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrived at the scene at 4.55pm.

Anwar announced immediate aid of RM5,000 (US$1127) to owners whose homes were completely destroyed by the blaze.

He also pledged aid of RM2,500 for over 100 owners whose homes had been partially destroyed during a visit to a fire and operations centre.

In an earlier post on Facebook, Anwar had urged the state government and related agencies to provide adequate assistance to displaced victims.

The state government and Petronas would take full responsibility for restoring the area, he said, adding that the process could take a year.

"It will take some time to determine the cause. Let there be a thorough investigation. Our priority now is safety. It looks under control so far," he said.

RESIDENTS FELT TREMORS

The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department said it received the initial call on the fire at around 8.10am.  

The flames reportedly reached up to 20 stories high and were visible from several kilometres away.

Shortly after the fire erupted, viral videos of the blaze circulated around social media while the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia urged the public not to fly drones in the areas affected by the gas pipeline explosion.

Amirudin also warned that despite the closed valve, the flames were still intense due to residual gas remaining in the pipeline.

"I urge the public to avoid the area until the fire is fully under control and officially declared safe by JBPM (the Fire and Rescue Department). The current priority is to control the fire and rescue victims," he said in a statement on Tuesday morning.

In a separate statement, Petronas said it was "working closely with all relevant parties to ensure the safety of the surrounding community, environment and security of gas supply to the nation, which remain our utmost priority".

A Bernama survey at a nearby temple revealed that several Ministry of Health personnel were working to administer first aid, according to the New Straits Times. Mosque authorities were also assisting the victims.

One of the victims, 42-year-old Lee Weng Ken, who suffered burns to his left leg, said he was shocked when the ceiling of his house collapsed and crushed his vehicle parked in the compound of the house at about 8.10am.

“I rushed out of my house but fell and suffered burns due to the heat from the blaze near my house,” he said, as quoted by Bernama.

Another victim who only wanted to be known as Andy, 52, whose house was located about 100m from the site of the inferno, said he ran out with his children when they felt tremors and saw the raging fire.

“I could only take the car out. My 18-year-old daughter injured her foot when she fell while climbing the fence due to the heat," he said.

The massive gas pipeline fire broke out on the second day of Aidilfitri celebrations. 

Putra Heights is a well-developed residential area and a highly desirable location for those seeking convenience and access to key parts of the Klang Valley.