JOHOR BARU: Housewife Elesha Alwi was at home in Masai with her three young daughters when they were startled by an explosion outside at noon.
She rushed out of their house in Taman Megah Ria and was shocked to see thick clouds of smoke coming from a burning engine oil storage facility nearby.
“I was really scared because the fire was so intense and close to our homes.
“I immediately took my girls and cats out of the house and ran to the next street to be safe,” the 42-year-old said when met at the scene.
Another resident, Zulkarnain Mohamad, 63, said the blaze reminded him of the Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion in April.
“I have been living in this area for the past 20 years and this is my first time experiencing such a scary situation.
“I noticed thick smoke at around 11.30am. The fire then spread so rapidly, probably because oil had spilled and caught fire in the facility,” he added.
Zulkarnain said several lorries parked near the residential area were also caught in the blaze.
“Some of my neighbours and I decided to pack our bags and evacuate the area because we were worried that what happened in Putra Heights might happen here,” said Zulkarnain, who is moving to his relative’s house for the time being.
Thick black smoke could be seen soaring into the sky during the incident at about 12pm yesterday.
The smoke could also be seen from the Eastern Dispersal Link Highway, located some 8km away.
Firefighters and police at the scene were seen urging onlookers and residents to evacuate their homes.
The electricity supply in the affected residential area was also cut off to prevent further incidents.
Johor Fire and Rescue Department zone one assistant chief Rosfarawadi Ismani Ismail said five premises were affected by the fire, which also destroyed 15 vehicles, including seven tanker lorries, three motorcycles and five cars. No casualties were reported.
He said the fire was under control in the evening, but operations are ongoing to ensure no reignition.
