Five dead after explosion at Pengerang petrol refining complex in Johor

KOTA TINGGI: An explosion at a Hydro Diesel Treater Unit (HTU) in Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) has left five people dead.

The fire broke out on Sunday (March 15) at 11.18pm, with the Fire and Rescue department deploying a total of nine vehicles and 42 personnel from the Sungai Rengit, Sebana Cove, Penawar, Pasir Gudang and Larkin Fire Departments.

The operation, under the command of Assistant Fire Commander Pauzan Ahmad, required water from eight fire trucks and two fire hydrants.

The fire department was also assisted by some 50 personnel and eight vehicles from the Pengerang Central Emergency and Fire Services (CEFS), Pengerang Emergency Response Team (ERT), and the Pengerang Central Medical Facility (CMF).

Johor Senior Assistant Fire Commander Abdul Rahman Azezulkifle in a statement said that the operation, as of 11.15am on Monday (March 16), is still ongoing.

"We have recorded a total of seven victims, with one escaping safely, another suffering burns up to 70%, four confirmed dead and one missing," he said.

The missing victim was later found dead, bring the number of fatalities to five.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.