A colossal fire has erupted in a Malaysian suburb outside Kuala Lumpur due to a burst gas pipeline, prompting evacuations of nearby homes.
The towering inferno near a petrol station in Putra Heights in central Selangor state was visible for kilometres.
National oil company Petronas said the fire broke out at one of its gas pipeline on Tuesday morning.
The affected pipeline had been isolated, it said.
Three petrol stations nearby the fire site were not affected but have been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, Petronas said, adding that investigations were still under way.
The Selangor Disaster Management unit said the blaze spread to several houses in a nearby village, and efforts were being made to rescue trapped residents.
Several people were treated for burns in hospital, but the extent of the full damage was being assessed, it said.
The valve to the pipeline was shut, which will eventually snuff out the fire.
The Star English newspaper said fire crews had rescued seven victims, including two elderly individuals.
No casualties have been reported so far.
Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari said the fire department has quickly evacuated nearby homes as a safety measure.
Pictures and videos of the fireball went viral on social media, with some residents saying they felt the doors and windows of their homes shaking believed to be due to the fire explosion earlier.
