A gas pipeline burst in a Malaysian suburb outside Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes.

The towering flames near a petrol station in Putra Heights, central Selangor state, could be seen for kilometres. National oil company Petronas said in a statement that the fire broke out at 8.10am on a gas pipeline.

The affected pipeline has been isolated, it said in a brief statement. Three petrol stations near the fire site were not affected but were temporarily closed as a precaution, Petronas said, adding that investigations were still ongoing.

The Selangor Disaster Management Unit said in a statement that the fire had spread to several houses in a nearby village and efforts were being made to rescue trapped residents. Several people were being treated for burns, but the full extent of the damage was being assessed, it said, adding that the pipeline valve had been closed, which would eventually extinguish the fire.

The Star English newspaper said fire and rescue teams had rescued seven victims, including two elderly people. No injuries were reported so far.

Dozens of Selangor firefighters were sent to the scene. The fire department quickly evacuated residents from nearby homes as a safety measure, Selangor Chief Minister Amiruddin Shari said. He said they would be temporarily housed at a nearby mosque until the situation was brought under control.

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, believing it was caused by an explosion from a previous fire.