A screengrab of the viral video showing the plumes of black smoke.
PLUMES of thick, black smoke soaring into the air are not a common sight, and videos of such incidents will go viral on social media.
One such video making the rounds claims that the clouds of black smoke could be visible from more than 10km away from the site of a factory fire in Bukit Mertajam.
Did a Bukit Mertajam factory fire cause clouds of black smoke to rise in the air?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Penang Fire and Rescue Department director Mohamad Shoki Hamzah confirmed the incident, saying that the smoke was the result of a massive fire at a paint manufacturing plant in Jalan Permatang Tinggi, Simpang Ampat.
He said the department dispatched the first engine from the Bandar Perda Fire and Rescue Station upon receiving a distress call at 1.27pm Saturday (May 10).
"The 10,000 sq ft warehouse storing paint and solvents was already more than 70% engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to a neighbouring warehouse storing methanol and toluene," he told Bernama.
More than 100 firefighters from the Bukit Mertajam, Sungai Bakap, Batu Kawan and Jalan Perak stations, as well as nearby volunteer fire brigades, managed to contain the blaze from spreading to other warehouses by 2.50pm.
Mohamad Shoki told Bernama that no casualties were reported, and as of 4pm Saturday, firefighting operations were still in progress.
The black smoke ws visible to residents several kilometres away and prompted some to come take a closer look.
Internet user Mohamad Rahmat Che Amat shared a video of firefighters heading to put out the fire with dark smoke and flames in the background.
"It is a factory in Bukit Minyak," he said.
User Mohdfadzal Ismail Fbi shared a photo and said the smoke could be seen from as far away Permatang Tinggi.
Another Internet user Aris Izuan Che Mohd, meanwhile, shared a photo of his car saying it had rained but the droplets were black.
"Now I understand why the droplets on my car were black, it must be from the smoke nearby," he said.
