Burst gas pipe sparks column of flame in Malaysia, injuring more than 100 people
A fire caused by a burst gas pipe spread to several homes and sent a fireball into the sky outside Malaysia’s largest city, injuring more than 100 people.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A fire caused by a burst gas pipe spread to several homes and sent a fireball soaring into the sky outside Malaysia’s largest city Tuesday, injuring more than 100 people.
The towering inferno near a gas station in Putra Heights outside Kuala Lumpur was visible for miles and lasted for several hours. It happened during a public holiday as Muslims, who are the majority in Malaysia, celebrate the second day of Eid.
National oil company Petronas said the fire started at one of its gas pipelines at 8:10 a.m. (8:10 p.m. Monday ET) and that the affected pipeline was later isolated. Disaster management officials said shutting the valves would eventually snuff out the fire.
The flames, 20 stories high at one point, were small enough for firefighters to approach around 2:45 p.m., the Selangor state fire department told the Star newspaper.
At least 49 houses were damaged and 112 people were injured, with 63 sent to the hospital for burns, breathing difficulties and other injuries, Selangor Deputy Police Chief Mohamad Zaini Abu Hassan was quoted as saying by the national Bernama news agency.
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