KUALA LUMPUR: Apart from medical aid, families of the victims of the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, are appealing for essential supplies such as clothing and food.
A family member of one of the victims, Mohd Rusman Mohamad Nasir, said most of the victims' homes were completely destroyed and they had no time to save any personal belongings.
"Zakat authorities, the Sri Serdang state assemblyman's office and a fast-food company (McDonald's) have provided initial aid at Masjid Nurul Iman and Masjid Putra Heights, including medical assistance.
"But if we could also get clothing, that would help," he told Bernama at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang on Tuesday (April 1).
Meanwhile, Rohanawati Ismail, the mother of one of the victims, said her eldest child, 28, managed to call her when the fire broke out.
"She told me the house was on fire and that flames were coming from the kitchen – not from a gas cylinder but from the gas pipeline.
"They could only run out with the clothes on their back," she said, also expressing hope for assistance with basic necessities.
An Indonesian victim, Rusman Abdul Samad, who was at the hospital accompanying an injured friend, described the heat as unbearable.
"I thought a plane was flying overhead but when I stepped outside, I saw the massive flames," he said.
Meanwhile, Masayuan Takbir, 38, who was met after receiving treatment at the Emergency and Trauma Department of Putrajaya Hospital, said she was traumatised by the incident.
She said she had to flee with her two children while her husband was at work.
"I rushed out of the house with my two children, aged nine and two, through the back door in the kitchen," she said, adding that she was barefoot.
"As we were running, my child's asthma medication dropped and I had to go back to retrieve it despite the intense heat.
"My second child suffered severe burns on his arm," she said.
Meanwhile, individuals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies were asked to donate essential items to victims taking shelter at the temporary evacuation centre at the Putra Heights Mosque, Subang Jaya.
Putra Heights community committee member Raja Hilmi Raja Idris said there is no clear timeframe how long the fire victims will be at the evacuation centre.
"I hope there are more donations, please send them.
"Many cannot return as their homes and vehicles are gone. So we need more help if possible," he said.
Among the essential items needed are slippers, sanitary towels, disposable diapers and clothes.
As of 7.30pm, there were 349 victims from 72 families taking shelter.
Meanwhile, former television personality Adiel Abd Ghaffar, who was also affected by the fire, praised the mosque committee for their quick action in providing facilities for victims to take shelter.
Pensioner Yaakob Yusof, 74, said he was grateful for the assistance received.
However, he said he hoped the government could help facilitate the process of obtaining replacements for documents destroyed in the fire.
Earlier, Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said that a total of 237 houses were affected.
Selangor police said the total number of victims was 364, most of whom suffered burns and heat exhaustion. – Bernama
Fire, Gas Pipeline, Putra Heights, Aid, Victims, Donations, Basic Necessities
