At least 63 people are being treated in hospitals in Malaysia after a major fire broke out on a gas pipeline operated by state energy company Petronas on Monday, authorities said, as efforts were underway to control the blaze and evacuate residents, Reuters reported.
The fire broke out this morning in the town of Puchong in Selangor state on the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur, and those taken to hospitals suffered burns, respiratory problems or other injuries, authorities said.
The pipeline was isolated, Petronas said in a statement.
The fire department said the company had closed a valve on a 500-meter-long pipeline and that 49 homes in the area were affected.
A Reuters journalist located about 5 kilometers from the fire said the intensity of the fire had decreased by early afternoon, but flames and smoke could still be seen.
Ambulances were seen rushing to the area of the fire, which authorities have sealed off.
No deaths have been reported, but it is not yet clear how many injuries or damage there are. Authorities had previously said some people were trapped in their homes.
Petronas said it is working closely with all relevant parties to ensure the safety of the surrounding community, the environment and the security of the country's gas supply.
The government has set up relief centers at two local mosques, Malaysian news agency Bernama reported, as reported by Reuters.
Beta news agency reported earlier today that a gas pipeline leak caused a large fire in a suburb of Kuala Lumpur today, prompting the evacuation of nearby buildings.
A fire near petrol stations in the central state of Selangor is visible from several kilometres away.
Firefighters in the state of Selangor said the gas pipeline leak was spreading about 500 meters, and that the fire column was very high.
According to the report, seven people were injured when the fire engulfed multiple buildings, and it was also reported that numerous residents were evacuated.
The fire and the consequences of the gas leak also affected infrastructure belonging to the public oil company Petronas, which announced that the gas supply to that installation had been interrupted.
Petronas said a fire broke out on one of its gas pipelines at 8.10:XNUMX a.m. local time.
Three petrol stations near the fire site were not affected but were temporarily closed as a precaution, Petronas said, adding that investigations were still ongoing.
The Selangor Disaster Management Unit said the fire had spread to several houses in a nearby village, that several people had suffered burns and would be taken to hospital, and that the full extent of the damage was still being assessed.
Dozens of firefighters were sent to the scene of the fire.
Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari said the fire department quickly evacuated residents of nearby houses as a precaution, and that they would be temporarily housed in a nearby mosque until the situation was under control.
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