KUALA LUMPUR – It may take up to a year for temperatures in heat-stricken Putra Heights to return to normal, provided local authorities implement appropriate measures to restore the disaster-hit area, says environmental analyst Mohd Fadhil Mohd Din.

Fadhil’s remarks come in the wake of a massive explosion and fire that erupted at a Petronas gas pipeline in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, on April 1—sending towering flames into the sky and sparking widespread panic.

The inferno, which saw flames shoot more than 30 metres into the air, caused temperatures to soar to a scorching 1,000 degrees Celsius. Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly eight hours before bringing it under control.

The extreme heat reportedly melted plastic and rubber objects within a wide radius of the blast site. A total of 81 homes were destroyed, another 81 were partially damaged, and 57 homes were affected but not burned. The remaining 218 homes in the vicinity were left unscathed.

The intense heat also scorched a section of the area’s green space, resulting in a spike in temperatures over the following four days, with readings between 38 and 42 degrees Celsius. As of now, temperatures in the area remain elevated at 36 degrees Celsius—significantly higher than the average of 28 to 32 degrees Celsius recorded before the incident, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

Speaking to Scoop, Fadhil said the climatic effects of the explosion are expected to persist for up to 10 months, likening the situation to the environmental fallout caused by the 1991 Kuwaiti oil fires.

The Kuwaiti oil fires were ignited by retreating Iraqi forces during the Gulf War, involving an estimated 605 to 732 oil wells and numerous oil-filled trenches and lakes. Though the last fire was extinguished in November 1991, the blazes released massive amounts of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, contributing to acid rain and regional climate disruption.

“Major fossil fuel accidents, such as large-scale oil spills or extensive fires, can have localised environmental impacts, including air and water pollution. For instance, the 1991 Kuwaiti oil fires resulted in significant smoke plumes, but the climatic effects were largely regional and had a long-term effect.

“In contrast, the prolonged burning of fossil fuels on a global scale contributes significantly to climate change, leading to more frequent and severe extreme weather events. In the case of Putra Heights, there are already immediate environmental consequences, as we’ve seen in the changing weather patterns in recent days. Even if it rains, the water is still polluted and there is a high risk of frequent acid rain occurring.

“Pollutants that contribute to acid rain, like sulphur dioxide, can also have a cooling effect on the atmosphere by reflecting sunlight. The effects of acid rain can make ecosystems more vulnerable to colder temperatures.

“It will take at least a year for the weather in Putra Heights to return to normal, considering the extreme damage caused by the 1,000-degree Celsius heat. A coordinated effort from the authorities is crucial to mitigate this issue,” said Fadhil, who is also the Director of the UTM Campus Sustainability Office (UTMCS).

Fadhil also urged the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) to move swiftly in its recovery efforts, with an emphasis on embedding climate resilience and sustainability into future plans.

“More green infrastructure should be incorporated into MBSJ’s master plans—such as creating parks, planting more trees, and developing community gardens—which can help to moderate local temperatures and improve air quality for residents.

“MBSJ should also develop and regularly update emergency preparedness plans to ensure the community is better equipped for future incidents, thereby minimising potential damage and enhancing resilience,” Fadhil added. – April 9, 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — Efforts to identify the cause of the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, continue today with comprehensive ground stabilisation at the incident site.

The operation, which began yesterday afternoon, continued throughout the night and early this morning, with expectations to be completed by this afternoon in a bid to expedite the investigation report.

The fire and explosion of the gas pipeline last week drastically altered the landscape at the incident site, known as ‘ground zero,’ creating a crater eight metres deep and spanning 70 by 80 metres.

Yesterday, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the investigation team had added two excavators to speed up the process of stabilising the soft ground at the site, with the operation running non-stop for 24 hours.

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) remains committed to identifying the cause of the incident, with various factors being investigated, including mechanical, environmental, operational, and safety angles.

Today, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari is scheduled to hold a press conference on the incident at the State Secretary’s Office (SUK) building at 4.30 pm.

Meanwhile, a check by Bernama at the Incident Control Post (PKTK) at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, found vehicles moving in and out of ‘ground zero’, consisting of rescue teams, investigators, and affected residents.

It is understood that residents are allowed to enter the area to bring in contractors for repairs or to remove furniture and other items still usable, but they must obtain a permit from the authorities.

The Petronas gas pipeline inferno at 8.10am on April 1 produced flames over 30 metres high with temperatures reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius and took nearly eight hours to be extinguished.

The incident caused 81 homes to be completely destroyed with structural damage exceeding 40 per cent, 81 homes partially damaged, 57 homes affected but not burned, and 218 homes left unaffected. — Bernama

Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN) mengumpul bantuan berjumlah RM29,533 untuk disalurkan kepada mangsa insiden kebakaran saluran paip gas di Putra Heights, sebagai sebahagian daripada usaha bantuan kecemasan dan sokongan pasca bencana.

Sumbangan itu digunakan bagi menyediakan bantuan segera kepada mangsa terjejas termasuk keperluan asas seperti makanan, minuman serta sokongan psikososial bagi memastikan kesejahteraan fizikal dan mental mangsa terus terpelihara.

Inisiatif bantuan itu adalah hasil kerjasama antara Pertubuhan Impian Kemajuan Negara (IKN), Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, YKN, dan Pertubuhan Pemerkasaan Komuniti Malaysia (MPOWER).

Bantuan diagihkan di beberapa lokasi strategik seperti Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) Masjid Putra Heights, PPS Dewan Camelia, serta Pos Kawalan Tempat Kejadian (PKTK), menurut kenyataan bersama oleh agensi dan NGO terlibat.

Dalam pada itu, Pengarah Kanan Bahagian Pentadbiran dan Sumber Manusia YKN Mohd Asrazi Mohamad Aspar berkata sesi kaunseling dilakukan pihaknya menunjukkan impak positif di mana ramai mangsa tampil berkongsi pelbagai masalah.

“Sejak PPS di Masjid Putra Heights diwujudkan pada Selasa lalu, ramai mangsa tampil meluahkan kebimbangan mereka. Pihak kami bersama Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat akan terus memberi sokongan psikososial kepada mereka yang memerlukan,” katanya.

Pengerusi IKN Danial Rafiq Mohd Pathil pula berkata pihaknya komited untuk terus menyalurkan sebarang bentuk keperluan bagi memudahkan proses pemulihan komuniti dapat dilaksanakan secara menyeluruh dan berkesan.

“Kami amat bersimpati dengan nasib penduduk yang terjejas akibat insiden ini. IKN tampil membantu dan memastikan kesejahteraan mangsa terbela dalam waktu genting ini,” katanya.

Dalam kejadian 2 April lalu, kebakaran membabitkan 500m paip gas menyebabkan 111 cedera yang kebanyakannya melecur dan mengalami masalah pernafasan.

Sebanyak 235 rumah terjejas dengan 87 musnah sepenuhnya manakala 148 lagi rosak. Kebakaran itu turut memusnahkan 225 kenderaan dan merosakkan 174 yang lain.

Ia juga menyebabkan kawah sedalam 10m terbentuk, selain merosakkan rumah serta harta-benda dalam radius 500m dari lokasi kebakaran.

TAIPEI: A deep, 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan's rural northeastern county of Yilan on Wednesday, the island's weather administration said, with no reports of damage.

The quake, which shook buildings in capital Taipei, had a depth of 72.4 km (45 miles), the weather administration said.

Taiwan's fire department said there had been no damage reported, including at the island's science parks where much of Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing takes place.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes.