Explosion rocks Bukit Jalil as chemical factory burns

An explosion rocked a factory after a short curcuit caused highly flamable chemicals to combust in the building.

CHERAS: An explosion rocked Bukit Jalil as fire razed a chemical factory in the Bandar Kinrara Industrial Park, Tuesday.

The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department deployed eight fire trucks and 54 men to battle the blaze, which is believed to have sparked from the factory's production floor where barrels of highly flammable chemical Hexane UN1208 was stored.

Puchong Fire and Rescue Department station chief Mohd Hissam Mat Yasih said no one was injured during the 11.47am incident and that officers managed to bring the blaze under control in about 30 minutes.

"There were 14 people in the factory at that time, but luckily when the fire started it was still small, and everyone managed to get out before the explosion," he said.

Cheras OCPD Asst Comm Chong Kok Sin said statements from eye witnesses said the fire was caused by a short circuit that fried wires near boxes containing the chemical.

He said the fire razed the production floor of the chemical factory and also damaged part of another factory next door to it.

The razed factory produces hydraulic oil and floor cleaner detergent, he said.