DAMAGE to homes in the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire has been estimated at RM65.4 million, including the cost of wiring repairs.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the Fire and Rescue Department saved assets worth RM285.9 million during the incident. He said inspections were conducted on 437 homes.

He said the homes have been divided into three levels of damage — completely destroyed (more than 40 per cent structural damage), partially damaged (less than 40 per cent structural damage) and affected but not burnt (no structural damage).

“Of the total, 81 homes are completely destroyed, 81 are partially damaged and 57 are affected but structurally intact,” he said at a press conference here yesterday. He said 218 homes were inspected and found to be unaffected.

He said up to 11am yesterday, 151 homes had been officially declared safe for reoccupation. “Owners and residents of these homes have been allowed to return. Some homes may have sustained minor damage that owners must repair themselves.

“The list of victims was finalised at 6pm yesterday (Sunday) after registration was closed at noon. “We recorded 613 households from 437 affected homes. This includes tenants occupying rented rooms or units within registered or identified properties.”

He said authorities had extended the inspection radius from the initial 290m to 325m. He said homeowners whose properties were destroyed in the explosion would get RM10,000 in cash aid, starting yesterday.

RM5,000 would be provided by Petronas and RM5,000 by the federal government, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on April 1.

Owners of properties that were affected but not destroyed will receive RM5,000, with RM2,500 from Petronas and RM2,500 from the federal government.

“From this evening (yesterday), 219 families that have registered with the Disaster Management Unit will receive aid from the federal government and Petronas through the state government,” Amirudin said.

He said the state government would provide RM2,000 in rental aid a month for six months to 613 affected households.

The initiative is expected to cost the state government RM7.35 million. The list of beneficiaries will be finalised next week.

He said the state decided to provide cash aid after receiving feedback that the Smart Sewa housing units in Kota Warisan, Sepang, were too far for many victims.

“Victims staying at the Smart Sewa units or other rental homes may use the funds provided.

“We plan to finalise the list and disburse the aid to household heads by next week, so they can begin securing temporary accommodation while awaiting repairs or reconstruction of their homes.”

Amirudin said 78 Airbnb units would be available from tomorrow, with the platform offering a two-month free stay.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said he would meet Anwar to discuss the best formula to help victims.

“An announcement will be made once a decision has been reached,” he said after his keynote address at the 14th Affordable Housing Project Conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.