Kuala Lumpur, April 1
More than 100 people were injured in a fire that broke out following a gas pipeline leak on the outskirts of Myanmar's capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported.
The fire erupted after an explosion and fireball at 8:10 am (local time) on Tuesday in the suburb of Putra Heights, central Selangor state. The gas pipeline belonging to Malaysia's state-run energy firm Petronas.
Selangor's Chief Minister said that the blaze quickly spread, threatening nearby villages during a public holiday for Eid celebration, Al Jazeera reported, citing state news agency Bernama.
As many as 112 people were injured, with 63 of them taken to the hospital for burn injuries, breathing difficulties and other injuries, according to Selangor Deputy Police Chief Mohamad Zaini Abu Hassan, as reported by Al Jazeera. At least 49 houses were also damaged in the fire, Hassan added. No deaths have been reported in the incident.
In a statement, the state's disaster management unit said that efforts were underway to rescue trapped residents, with several people receiving treatment for burns, Al Jazeera reported.
Selangor's Chief Minister said 82 people had been rescued so far. The chief minister further said that residents will be temporarily moved to a nearby mosque until the situation is under control.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is so heartbreaking during Eid celebrations 😢 My prayers go out to all the victims and their families. The authorities need to investigate how this could happen during such an important time.
Thank God there were no fatalities! The emergency response teams must have worked incredibly fast to contain this. Does anyone know if there's a way to donate to help the displaced families?
While I'm relieved no one died, I'm concerned about the pipeline maintenance standards. This isn't the first incident involving Petronas infrastructure. There needs to be more accountability and transparency about safety inspections.
My cousin lives near Putra Heights and said the explosion was terrifying. The mosque is packed with displaced families right now. Alhamdulillah the community is coming together to help with food and supplies.
The article says Myanmar's capital at first but then corrects to Malaysia - might want to fix that typo. Otherwise, good coverage of a tragic situation. Hope the injured recover quickly.
So scary! I live just 5km from there and heard the explosion. The smoke was visible for hours. First responders deserve medals for their quick action ðŸ‘
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