ISKANDAR PUTERI: Three Bangladeshi nationals are in critical condition after a major fire hit four warehouses at the SiLC Industrial Park here.
Johor Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Muhammad Al Mustakin Abdul Hady said the department received a distress call about the incident at around 11.34am yesterday.
“We deployed 39 firemen from six fire stations to the scene immediately, including three fire rescue tenders, one compact fire rescue tender, one foam tender, a 20,000-litre tanker and two emergency medical rescue service (EMRS) vehicles.
“The fire, which initially started at a warehouse logistics company, spread to three more warehouses located near to one another.
“One of the warehouses stored chemical products such as thinner and solvent, and this caused the fire to spread faster,” Muhammad Al Mustakin told the media when met at the scene.
He added that during the fire, there were nine foreign workers at the premises, and three of them sustained 30% first-degree burns on their bodies.
Muhammad Al Mustakin said the injured have been sent to Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) in Johor Baru for treatment.
“We have to use foam to control the fire as we are dealing with chemicals. Firemen were able to control the fire at around 1.34pm, with efforts ongoing to put it out completely,” he added.
“The fire also caused serious damage to the structure of the four premises as well as vehicles parked near to the warehouses.”
He also said that once the fire is extinguished, the department’s forensic unit will enter the premises to investigate the cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm M. Kumarasan said those injured were between 29 and 40 years old.
“They are currently being treated at the HSA red zone due to the severe injuries they sustained,” he said, adding that six other foreign workers did not sustain any injuries.
Those with information regarding the incident have been urged to lodge a report at the nearest police station or contact the Iskandar Puteri police hotline at 07-511 4486.
