Malaysia gas pipeline explosion

Amirul helped his neighbours recover after disaster

Amirul and his wife Izzati sitting on the sofa smiling at the camera

Amirul was celebrating the second day of Eid with his family at their home in Putra Heights, Malaysia, the morning of 1 April 2025, when they heard what sounded like a loud engine noise. They looked out of the window and saw what looked like a fireball. The building was shaking. Without time to think or grab anything, they ran out of the door, away from danger.A nearby gas pipe explosion caused a fire that displaced more than 500 people, injured 150 and destroyed 81 homes.

Amirul and his relatives sustained second- and third-degree burns from the fire.

Amirul lived in Putra Heights with his wife and her family. During the explosion, Amirul was with his wife, her parents and his nine relatives. All of them escaped but sustained second- and third-degree burns. They lost their home, and the family was spread out between the hospital and a community shelter. Amirul heard about free, emergency housing through Airbnb.org and booked a month-long stay while he and his family waited for a longer-term solution from the local government. Their housing was close to the hospital, where Amirul and his relatives travelled back and forth for burn treatments.

“Home is a safe place. A place where we feel comfortable. We can be there, without any worries.”

Amirul’s family gathered around a dinner table with food on the table

Amirul is a Superhost and was quick to book his emergency housing, but many of his neighbours who were also in a shelter were not familiar with the platform. Although he was confined to a wheelchair due to burns on his legs, Amirul went to local community meetings to tell his neighbours about Airbnb.org and help them sign up to receive free, emergency housing.

Amirul, a host in a wheelchair, talking to Matin from Airbnb.

“As a host, I felt that I had a responsibility to step up and guide the community through the process.”

After Amirul’s Airbnb.org stay, he and his family moved into another apartment in the same building. He returned to work and his family continues to heal. They plan to rebuild in Putra Heights.