![Tzu Chi’s relief distribution efforts offered not only warmth, but also heartfelt blessings to those affected, bringing comfort amidst loss and uncertainty. [Photo by Leong Chian Yee]](/images/Articles/CS/2025/KL20250420b_lqy01_044.jpg "Tzu Chi’s relief distribution efforts offered not only warmth, but also heartfelt blessings to those affected, bringing comfort amidst loss and uncertainty. [Photo by Leong Chian Yee]")
In the immediate aftermath of the Putra Heights gas explosion, Tzu Chi volunteers swiftly mobilised. Over the course of 23 days, they worked tirelessly to carry out relief efforts, offering heartfelt support and comfort to those affected.
Flames lit up the sky, painting it orange as fine sand rained down. As Masnani’s family fled in their car, her heart pounded with fear, worried the intense heat might cause the vehicle to explode. Having relocated to higher ground after the 2021 Klang Valley floods, she never imagined facing yet another ordeal, this time, an explosion and fire.
Relief only came when she arrived at the relief centre and saw the familiar blue-and-white uniforms of Tzu Chi volunteers. “They were there during the floods too,” she recalled. “At that moment, I knew we were not alone.”
◎ A festival morning turned nightmare
At around 8 a.m. on April 1, 2025, just the second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, a massive explosion shattered the peaceful morning in Putra Heights, Selangor. A natural gas pipeline leak had ignited, triggering a violent blast that erupted into a towering inferno.
The blaze soared as high as 30 metres, with temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. The shockwaves rippled across kilometres, shaking homes and hearts alike.
The devastation was immense. Approximately 219 premises were damaged, and 150 people sustained injuries, many with severe burns. Nearly 400 vehicles were either incinerated or melted by the searing heat. Among the hardest-hit neighbourhoods were Putra Harmoni, Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, and Kampung Tengah.
In their desperate bid to escape, some residents jumped into a nearby river over two metres deep. What had begun as a joyful morning quickly descended into chaos, fear, loss, and uncertainty.
◎ First to respond: Tzu Chi in action
Within hours of the explosion, Tzu Chi volunteers arrived at the Putra Heights Mosque, which had opened its doors as a temporary relief centre. They quickly set to work by setting up partitions, organising supplies, and distributing daily necessities. Foldable beds and wheelchairs were also dispatched from the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall to support the evacuees.
Among those seeking refuge was Sharifah, who struggled to recount her harrowing escape. Volunteer Ma Lay Hwa stood quietly by her side, listening attentively. When Sharifah finished talking, Lay Hwa embraced her and said, “Thankfully, everyone is safe. That’s what matters most.”
Those simple words brought tears to Sharifah’s eyes, releasing the emotions she had been holding back. She had initially thought it was a plane crash, only to run outside and see flames towering into the sky and thick smoke engulfing the air. Though her family managed to escape, her husband was hospitalised with severe burns, while she sustained second-degree burns on her left arm.
Volunteers continued their efforts late into the night, wrapping up their initial relief work only past midnight.
◎ Holistic support for survivors
In the days that followed, volunteers continued their presence at the relief centre, providing companionship and lending a listening ear to survivors still reeling from the trauma. On the nights of April 2 and 3, Tan Soh Kict, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and member of the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA), visited the relief centre to offer acupuncture, cupping, and gua sha therapy. These treatments helped ease symptoms like coughing, insomnia, dizziness, and post-traumatic stress.
“I finally slept through the night,” shared Halimah Mohamed, who had struggled with sleeplessness since the incident. Grateful for the care, she expressed her thanks to Soh Kict, who responded humbly, “In times of disaster, love from society is essential. I’m deeply grateful to Tzu Chi for the opportunity to serve at their Free Clinic before starting my own practice. Hence, whenever I’m needed, I’ll be there.”
◎ Learning from the Taiwan Kaohsiung explosion
Three days after the explosion, the Tzu Chi KL & Selangor team held a virtual meeting with their counterparts in Taiwan, who had responded to the Kaohsiung gas explosion. Drawing from their experiences, the local team decided to begin outreach in surrounding areas while awaiting clearance to enter the most severely affected zones.
They swiftly mobilised and coordinated with residents’ associations and village heads to gain access to affected zones. Meanwhile, at the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall, volunteers assembled 500 blessing packages, each containing halal-certified food, face masks, a Tzu Chi publication, a blessing card, and a bamboo bank. More than just material supplies, these packages conveyed heartfelt support and care.
◎ Offering comfort door-to-door
On April 6, a large-scale home visit was carried out in the mildly to moderately affected areas of Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru and Kampung Tengah. A total of 239 volunteers, divided into 36 teams, visited more than 400 households.
The air still carried the smell of burnt debris. Scorched trees, shattered windows, and partially melted vehicles bore witness to the devastation. Though most residents did not suffer heavy material losses, the emotional toll was visible.
From door to door, volunteers delivered blessing packages and, more importantly, moments of peace through their sincere presence.
Among the residents was Rusman, an Indonesian national who fled barefoot with his wife and housemates, leaping into a river to escape the unbearable heat. Along the way, they assisted an elderly couple hesitant to enter the water as they were unable to swim. Though he was exhausted and lost his valuables in the chaos, Rusman expressed no regret. “We’re all human, and we should help each other,” he said simply.
◎ Reaching the severely affected residents
From April 9, volunteers entered the hardest-hit Putra Harmoni and completed aid registration for 132 affected households.
Another registration mission took place on April 13, in the severely affected areas of Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru. That morning, an 81-member team arrived at the entry point, only to be advised by police to postpone due to ongoing large-scale clean-up efforts. Undeterred, about 40 volunteers, who could stay on, returned to carry out the mission that afternoon.
Despite a drizzle, the volunteers pressed on, visiting homes one by one, clad in raincoats or carrying umbrellas. By day’s end, 127 households had been visited and registered. For the volunteers, time was of the essence as help must arrive without delay.
◎ Relief for the body and soul
On April 20, three sessions of a relief distribution ceremony were held at the Tzu Chi USJ Community Centre, where financial aid was extended to 226 households that had suffered moderate to severe damage. Before the ceremony, volunteers reached out through text messages and phone calls, ensuring every beneficiary was informed.
One of the recipients, Andy Voo, had been living temporarily with his sister while placing his elderly dog in an animal medical centre. He recalled feeling distressed and lost in the aftermath of the explosion. “I’m really touched,” he said, chokingly. “Today is the first time I came across a financial aid that will really help me in many things.”
Andy confessed that he used to view people as being unhelpful and motivated by benefits. However, during the ceremony, a video showcasing Tzu Chi volunteers’ tireless efforts in reaching out to people in need transformed his perspective. “After watching the video today, I realised that I was wrong. There are still so many people out there who are willing to help without expecting anything in return.” He expressed his wish to join Tzu Chi and serve once his own life stabilises.
◎ A spark of hope in hospital wards
In addition to home visits, Tzu Chi had also been actively coordinating hospital visits, and successfully reached out to 17 burn victims, offering emotional support and relief fund. Many of the injured were undergoing rehabilitation and post-operative care for second- and third-degree burns.
“I truly feel your care,” said Kamaljit Singh. “The money helps, but more than that, it’s the positive energy and hope you’ve brought us. That’s what we need most right now.”
In the quiet hospital rooms, the gentle presence of compassion reminded patients that someone cared, and they were not alone.
●
Impermanence is a fundamental truth of life. This relief mission made it clearer than ever that when the world is turned upside down, what endures is kindness and compassion, and the quiet tenacity of inner faith. From physical aid to emotional support, the volunteers upheld this promise: no survivor would be left to face the aftermath alone. Their hope was simple, that every affected resident would find healing and renewed hope through compassion.
