Major fire in Malaysia after gas pipeline leak: fire dept

A massive fire forced people from their homes during Eid celebrations as it towered over residential districts Tuesday near the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

Seven residents had to be rescued after several homes caught fire, although no casualties have been reported, Selangor state fire officials said in a statement.

The inferno, which was visible kilometres away, was caused by "a gas pipeline leak stretching approximately 500 metres (1,600 feet)", according to the statement.

The valve to the affected pipeline belonging to Malaysia's state-run oil firm Petronas has been shut off, the statement said.

Residents enjoying a public holiday for Eid celebrations in Muslim-majority Malaysia had to flee the area.

"All of a sudden, we heard a loud bang and then total chaos," a resident living 200 metres (650 feet) away from the fire was qutoted as saying by the The Star newspaper.

"We immediately left the house and soon saw other residents leaving too."