Early Tuesday morning. The fire, which could be seen from several miles away, caused mass evacuations as the authorities fine-tuned their efforts to control the raging situation. The fire broke out at 8:10 a.m. near a gasoline outlet in Selangor, Central Malaysia. With hardly any time lost, local firefighting and rescue teams were called into action. Petronas, the national oil company, stated that the fire was caused by one of the pipelines carrying gas owned by the company.
In its short statement, Petronas attempted to calm the public by stating that the affected pipeline had been isolated, while no other pipeline was affected. However, three nearby gas stations have been closed just as a precaution, although Petronas maintains that the gas stations themselves were not harmed. Investigations into the cause of the explosion are still ongoing. The affecting inferno caused destruction, evidently spreading to nearby houses. Several houses on fire were reported by the Selangor disaster management unit. Emergency responders continue to work tirelessly rescuing residents who were trapped due to this fire. So far, seven have reportedly been rescued while many others have suffered burns and are being evacuated for medical treatment.
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Meanwhile, local authorities also acted swiftly to evacuate residents from the area. “The chief minister of Selangor, Amirudin Shari, announced that residents near the area were taken to a mosque for temporary shelter.” Firefighters from the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department were sent to tackle the flames and prevent freshly accessed destruction. The gas pipeline valve had been closed, and authorities believe it will now let the flames burn out gradually.
Images and videos of the massive fireball spread quickly on social media, and residents reported the intensity of the explosion. Some reported the feeling of their doors and windows in the insides of their homes shaking due to this blast. The sheer scale of the fire and its destructive power have traumatized the local population watching live, aided further in their bewilderment as the event keeps unfolding. Authorities have also launched an integral investigation, ensuring the safety of residents and assessing the full extent of the damage.
