Oil tanker driver burnt to death

JOHOR BARU: A lorry driver was burnt to death while transferring diesel from a tanker at a factory in Taman Mount Austin here.

The victim, identified as G. Anil, 22, was engulfed in fire when pumping diesel into a steaming machine at the food processing factory in Jalan Mutiara Emas here.

Johor Baru (South) deputy OCPD Supt Mohd Afzanizam Yahaya said the hose used to transfer the diesel was believed to have a leak and that a spark might have caused the fire.

Factory owner Ling Hwa Yew, 51, rushed to Anil’s aid in the 10.30am incident but was badly injured by the fire as well.

Supt Mohd Afzanizam said Ling suffered 95% burns on his body.

He added that Ling was rushed to the Sultan Ismail Hospital and warded at the intensive care unit for treatment.

“We did not find any criminal element in the incident,” he said, adding that Anil’s death has been classified as a sudden death.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department investigation unit chief Ahmad Murad Saat said three fire engines and a medical rescue unit vehicle from Johor Baru, Johor Jaya and Tebrau stations rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at around 10.30am.