Kuala Lumpur: In the blink of an eye, a peaceful Tuesday morning quickly turned into chaos for Ong Yaw Kern and his three children when an explosion ripped through their neighbourhood, caused by a gas pipeline blaze in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Yaw Kern, an accountant, was in his room while his children were asleep when the explosion occurred. He initially thought it was an earthquake due to the loud noise and tremors. A large rock from the explosion landed in front of him, prompting him to prioritize his family’s safety and retrieve important documents before seeking shelter.

Yaw Kern and his children, Jing Ren, 15; Jing Xuan, 13; and Jing Shen, 11, suffered second-degree burns on their legs and were treated at Putrajaya Hospital. Their home, situated just 50 metres from the explosion site, was completely destroyed, leading to an estimated loss of RM2 million, including the house and personal belongings.

Despite the magnitude of their loss, Yaw Kern expressed gratitude for their survival and remains hopeful about rebuilding. He emphasized the importance of their safety over material possessions and is currently staying at a budget hotel while searching for a new home.

Jing Ren recounted his experience, mentioning that he initially thought an earthquake had occurred due to the tremors. Upon seeing the brightness of the blaze, he realized something was amiss and sought guidance from his father. The family eventually evacuated safely through a neighbour’s house once the flames subsided.

The explosion was confirmed by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) to have occurred at a main pipeline owned by Petronas Gas Bhd (PGB). The fire, which ignited at 8.10 am, took nearly eight hours to extinguish, leaving a significant crater measuring approximately 9.8 metres deep and 21 by 24 metres in size.