PUTRA HEIGHTS – The authorities are not ruling out the possibility that unauthorised excavation work may have caused the gas leak leading to this morning’s explosion here, said Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
However, he said it was too early to speculate.
“We do not want to jump to conclusions, but there were reports of excavation work in the area recently. We will wait for the full findings before making any definitive statements.”
Authorities are also working to determine what caused the spark that ignited the leaking gas.
Amirudin confirmed that 125 people were injured in the blast, with 65 still undergoing treatment, while 60 have since been discharged.
The explosion, which occurred around 8am, resulted in widespread destruction. A total of 190 properties were completely destroyed, while 148 cars and 11 motorcycles were damaged as flames soared up to 1,000 meters. The fire affected an area of 290 square meters.
With safety being a priority, Amirudin advised residents not to return to their respective houses just yet.
He said the authorities would need up to 48 hours before making an official announcement on when it would be safe to do so.
“The power supply to the residential area has been cut for now. Given the volatile situation, we do not want to take any risks until we have the full report.”
He also assured residents that police would be deployed to secure the affected area and prevent theft.
“We understand the victims are concerned about their belongings. We will ensure their homes are safe while investigations and recovery efforts continue.”
Despite the scale of the disaster, the fire was brought under control after seven hours, thanks to the swift response of the emergency team.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who visited the scene earlier, pledged full federal and state governments’ support as well as from Petronas for the affected families, including covering the costs of rebuilding.
He also announced immediate financial aid of RM5,000 for those with fully damaged homes and RM2,500 for partially damaged ones.
Efforts are now focused on determining the cause of the explosion and planning long-term housing solutions for affected residents. – April 1, 2025