Elderly Woman Overcomes Severe Pain To Make Barefoot Escape From Putra Heights Fire
Khoo Poh Lai fled to safety with her children's help.
By Yap Wan Xiang β 03 Apr 2025, 03:34 PM
An elderly woman overcame severe pain to escape the intense heat of the pipeline blaze in Putra Heights, Selangor on Tuesday, 1 April
According to Bernama, Alex Khoo said his 72-year-old sister, Poh Lai, was on the verge of giving up, but her children pulled her to safety.
When the explosion occurred, Poh Lai was at home with her husband and children, about 100m from the blast site.
She was initially reluctant to flee as she was overwhelmed by severe pain.
With determination and courage, she endured the pain and ran barefoot on the scorching road with her children's help.
Alex said the heat from the fire was so intense that even rubber slippers melted.
Poh Lai is currently receiving treatment at a hospital for burns on her legs
"She's okay. She's walking around with bandages on her legs because she suffered burns after running on the hot road," Alex told Bernama.
Poh Lai's husband remains in intensive care due to severe smoke inhalation.
Her family lost everything in the fire, including their cars, as they had no time to save any of their belongings.
Alex expressed gratitude for the government's swift decision to provide financial aid to the victims, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He emphasised that the assistance was crucial for those who had lost everything in the fire.
"I think that's good. That's what they need... because they lost their house. They lost everything. The fire spread so fast," said the brother.
