Gas pipeline fire near Kuala Lumpur prompts evacuations

A gas pipeline operated by Malaysia state energy firm Petronas caught fire on Tuesday on the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur, authorities said, with operations ongoing to try to tackle the blaze.

Petronas in a statement said the pipeline had been isolated. 

There were 12 people injured from the fire on Tuesday and 82 people have been rescued so far.

Operations to try to tackle the blaze are ongoing, it said.

Images carried by local news outlets and footage shared on social media showed a massive fire and a huge orange flame on the horizon with smoke billowing out.

A large flame rose from a leak in a pipeline that is approximately 500 m (1,640 feet) long in the town of Puchong, the department said in a statement, adding Petronas has closed the valve on the burning pipeline.

Flames were seen to be shooting 80 meters high from the gas pipeline! pic.twitter.com/vC6FuNyazT

— Rob Ahern (@RobAhern) April 1, 2025

The fire department said it was still investigating the extent of the spread of fire in the residential area.