Three hurt clearing destroyed fireworks

KUALA LUMPUR: Three workers suffered minor injuries while clearing a pile of fireworks that had been destroyed earlier by the authorities. The fireworks, worth at least RM4.17mil, had been destroyed during an event at the police evidence storage facility here yesterday.

ALSO READ: 'I saw a huge ball of flame,' says witness after fireworks disposal ends with a bang

One of the workers, Al Kasim, said he was clearing the pile when a fire suddenly ignited in the bin.

“It happened so quickly. One moment we were clearing the pile and the next moment, I saw a huge ball of flames.

“I dove to the ground to avoid the flames and crept through a fence to get to safety.

“I honestly did not think I was going to survive,” he said, adding that he suffered injuries to his back and sprained his ankle as he ran for safety.

ALSO READ: Fireworks disposal sets off thick smoke, sounds of explosion at police storage facility

Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Beh Eng Lai said the fireworks were destroyed at the facility according to a court order.

“The event to witness the destruction of the fireworks started at around 3pm and was attended by the magistrate as well as members of the media.

“Fire and Rescue Department personnel were also at the scene to dampen the pile of fireworks before the backhoe was called in to crush it,” he told reporters when met at the scene.

He said workers began clearing the area and putting the destroyed fireworks into the metal roll-on roll-off bins at around 4.30pm.

“Our checks revealed that the fire started at around 6.15pm while the three workers were clearing the area. They escaped with minor injuries.

“No foul play was detected in this incident,” he said, adding that the victims were aged between 25 and 30.

Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Ahmad Daniel Ahmad Kamal said fire engines and personnel from the Hang Tuah, Titiwangsa, Tun Razak and Wangsa Maju fire stations were deployed to the scene after receiving a call at 6.22pm.

“We arrived 10 minutes later and found that around 450sq m of the area was on fire.

“Thirty per cent of a building and several vehicles were destroyed,” he said, adding that the blaze was completely doused by 7.40pm.